Today is an exciting day as we launch our report to the public.

Our report recommends that the Government implement our proposed solutions for developing a trauma-informed justice system that collaborates with a diverse network of community-based resources. Our action plan involves redistributing government funds to prioritise Kaupapa Māori services and peer support, which are at the forefront of establishing such a trauma-informed system. We emphasise the Government’s responsibility to support Kaupapa Māori services; the communities who contributed to this research demonstrated exemplary trauma-informed care practices that incorporate te ao Māori and lived experience.

In recent years, Aotearoa has implemented a criminal justice reform plan with the goal of
improving the system by utilising evidence in all aspects. Our research indicates that achieving this transformation requires culturally appropriate methods of gathering evidence at the grassroots level, in collaboration with government agencies and sectors involved in the criminal justice system. We acknowledge that this evidence may deviate from traditional Western scientific interpretations. The primary objective of He Ture Kia Tika was to partner with whānau who have experienced incarceration to co-create a more effective justice system in Aotearoa.

The Māori community has long expressed the need to improve access to Kaupapa Māori services that cater to their holistic needs and align with their cultural values and beliefs. Initiatives led by the community that caters to the diverse realities of the most vulnerable and underserved are best led by those with lived experience and intimate knowledge of those realities. This is especially important as navigating a health system that does not prioritise te ao Māori or tikanga Māori principles can pose challenges. Our research supports the implementation of whānau, hapū, and iwi-centred approaches to service delivery that are grounded in mātauranga Māori and tikanga.

To achieve equitable health outcomes for the Māori community, it is crucial to address funding inequities and increase investment in Kaupapa Māori services.

Ngā mihi,
He Ture Kia Tika rōpū