Lay summary
Pre-colonisation, sexual abuse was considered ‘hara’ (a violation of tapu) and never tolerated. The perpetrators were immediately and publicly dealt with, and the victims were nurtured and supported. Currently, research indicates that Māori are disproportionately represented statistically for sexual abuse within whānau, hapu and iwi. Time and time again clients present with a history of intergenerational sexual abuse where the perpetrator has been protected and the victims silenced. Most of this abuse is never reported and as a result, children from the new generations are abused by the same offenders as their parents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. The impact of sexual abuse is devastating on all levels and many victims never get support. This study proposes to investigate the change from zero tolerance of sexual abuse to the silencing of victims and tolerance of sexual abuse within our whānau. By using case studies to follow the individual journeys to awareness.