Lay summary
The need for contextualised, culturally safe health/social services is well recognised within Aotearoa, particularly within Mental Health and Addiction Services. However this response can often be polarised and limited in its focus, using generic Maori cultural constructs or iwi non-specific, total population impacts of trauma for Maori. The intervening logic is either individualised or ethnically generalised. While trauma is an experience that can impact on all people, Maori experience trauma in distinct ways; similarly, hapu/iwi have experienced trauma in distinct ways. These are linked to localised experiences of colonisation, racism, discrimination and subsequent unequal rates of violence, poverty and ill health. Given that hapu and iwi have been impacted by trauma in distinct ways, it is important to identify practice principles that can contribute to the development of a framework that supports Maori providers working with Maori individuals to better understand and respond to trauma within a whanau, hapu, and iwi context.