diff --git a/wagtail/api/v2/pagination.py b/wagtail/api/v2/pagination.py
index 3e935212d..c495b1614 100644
--- a/wagtail/api/v2/pagination.py
+++ b/wagtail/api/v2/pagination.py
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@ class WagtailPagination(BasePagination):
 
     def get_paginated_response(self, data):
         data = OrderedDict([
-            ('total_count', self.total_count),
+            ('meta', OrderedDict([
+                ('total_count', self.total_count),
+            ])),
             ('items', data),
         ])
         return Response(data)
diff --git a/wagtail/api/v2/tests/test_documents.py b/wagtail/api/v2/tests/test_documents.py
index 00c55eb57..7a88d8c91 100644
--- a/wagtail/api/v2/tests/test_documents.py
+++ b/wagtail/api/v2/tests/test_documents.py
@@ -31,10 +31,14 @@ class TestDocumentListing(TestCase):
         # Will crash if the JSON is invalid
         content = json.loads(response.content.decode('UTF-8'))
 
+        # Check that the meta section is there
+        self.assertIn('meta', content)
+        self.assertIsInstance(content['meta'], dict)
+
         # Check that the total count is there and correct
-        self.assertIn('total_count', content)
-        self.assertIsInstance(content['total_count'], int)
-        self.assertEqual(content['total_count'], Document.objects.count())
+        self.assertIn('total_count', content['meta'])
+        self.assertIsInstance(content['meta']['total_count'], int)
+        self.assertEqual(content['meta']['total_count'], Document.objects.count())
 
         # Check that the items section is there
         self.assertIn('items', content)
@@ -189,7 +193,7 @@ class TestDocumentListing(TestCase):
         content = json.loads(response.content.decode('UTF-8'))
 
         # The total count must not be affected by "limit"
-        self.assertEqual(content['total_count'], Document.objects.count())
+        self.assertEqual(content['meta']['total_count'], Document.objects.count())
 
     def test_limit_not_integer_gives_error(self):
         response = self.get_response(limit='abc')
@@ -242,7 +246,7 @@ class TestDocumentListing(TestCase):
         content = json.loads(response.content.decode('UTF-8'))
 
         # The total count must not be affected by "offset"
-        self.assertEqual(content['total_count'], Document.objects.count())
+        self.assertEqual(content['meta']['total_count'], Document.objects.count())
 
     def test_offset_not_integer_gives_error(self):
         response = self.get_response(offset='abc')
diff --git a/wagtail/api/v2/tests/test_images.py b/wagtail/api/v2/tests/test_images.py
index f305d243e..dda6da8d8 100644
--- a/wagtail/api/v2/tests/test_images.py
+++ b/wagtail/api/v2/tests/test_images.py
@@ -31,10 +31,14 @@ class TestImageListing(TestCase):
         # Will crash if the JSON is invalid
         content = json.loads(response.content.decode('UTF-8'))
 
+        # Check that the meta section is there
+        self.assertIn('meta', content)
+        self.assertIsInstance(content['meta'], dict)
+
         # Check that the total count is there and correct
-        self.assertIn('total_count', content)
-        self.assertIsInstance(content['total_count'], int)
-        self.assertEqual(content['total_count'], get_image_model().objects.count())
+        self.assertIn('total_count', content['meta'])
+        self.assertIsInstance(content['meta']['total_count'], int)
+        self.assertEqual(content['meta']['total_count'], get_image_model().objects.count())
 
         # Check that the items section is there
         self.assertIn('items', content)
@@ -187,7 +191,7 @@ class TestImageListing(TestCase):
         content = json.loads(response.content.decode('UTF-8'))
 
         # The total count must not be affected by "limit"
-        self.assertEqual(content['total_count'], get_image_model().objects.count())
+        self.assertEqual(content['meta']['total_count'], get_image_model().objects.count())
 
     def test_limit_not_integer_gives_error(self):
         response = self.get_response(limit='abc')
@@ -240,7 +244,7 @@ class TestImageListing(TestCase):
         content = json.loads(response.content.decode('UTF-8'))
 
         # The total count must not be affected by "offset"
-        self.assertEqual(content['total_count'], get_image_model().objects.count())
+        self.assertEqual(content['meta']['total_count'], get_image_model().objects.count())
 
     def test_offset_not_integer_gives_error(self):
         response = self.get_response(offset='abc')
diff --git a/wagtail/api/v2/tests/test_pages.py b/wagtail/api/v2/tests/test_pages.py
index e4b06efe3..ab61df6f5 100644
--- a/wagtail/api/v2/tests/test_pages.py
+++ b/wagtail/api/v2/tests/test_pages.py
@@ -40,10 +40,14 @@ class TestPageListing(TestCase):
         # Will crash if the JSON is invalid
         content = json.loads(response.content.decode('UTF-8'))
 
+        # Check that the meta section is there
+        self.assertIn('meta', content)
+        self.assertIsInstance(content['meta'], dict)
+
         # Check that the total count is there and correct
-        self.assertIn('total_count', content)
-        self.assertIsInstance(content['total_count'], int)
-        self.assertEqual(content['total_count'], get_total_page_count())
+        self.assertIn('total_count', content['meta'])
+        self.assertIsInstance(content['meta']['total_count'], int)
+        self.assertEqual(content['meta']['total_count'], get_total_page_count())
 
         # Check that the items section is there
         self.assertIn('items', content)
@@ -63,7 +67,7 @@ class TestPageListing(TestCase):
 
         response = self.get_response()
         content = json.loads(response.content.decode('UTF-8'))
-        self.assertEqual(content['total_count'], total_count - 1)
+        self.assertEqual(content['meta']['total_count'], total_count - 1)
 
     def test_private_pages_dont_appear_in_list(self):
         total_count = get_total_page_count()
@@ -76,7 +80,7 @@ class TestPageListing(TestCase):
 
         response = self.get_response()
         content = json.loads(response.content.decode('UTF-8'))
-        self.assertEqual(content['total_count'], new_total_count)
+        self.assertEqual(content['meta']['total_count'], new_total_count)
 
 
     # TYPE FILTER
@@ -95,8 +99,8 @@ class TestPageListing(TestCase):
         response = self.get_response(type='demosite.BlogEntryPage')
         content = json.loads(response.content.decode('UTF-8'))
 
-        # Total count must be reduced as this filters the items
-        self.assertEqual(content['total_count'], 3)
+        # Total count must be reduced as this filters the results
+        self.assertEqual(content['meta']['total_count'], 3)
 
     def test_type_filter_multiple(self):
         response = self.get_response(type='demosite.BlogEntryPage,demosite.EventPage')
@@ -448,7 +452,7 @@ class TestPageListing(TestCase):
         content = json.loads(response.content.decode('UTF-8'))
 
         # The total count must not be affected by "limit"
-        self.assertEqual(content['total_count'], get_total_page_count())
+        self.assertEqual(content['meta']['total_count'], get_total_page_count())
 
     def test_limit_not_integer_gives_error(self):
         response = self.get_response(limit='abc')
@@ -501,7 +505,7 @@ class TestPageListing(TestCase):
         content = json.loads(response.content.decode('UTF-8'))
 
         # The total count must not be affected by "offset"
-        self.assertEqual(content['total_count'], get_total_page_count())
+        self.assertEqual(content['meta']['total_count'], get_total_page_count())
 
     def test_offset_not_integer_gives_error(self):
         response = self.get_response(offset='abc')