Extensive international scholarship demonstrates Indigenous people are particularly and uniquely affected by historical trauma through colonisation. Specific acts of oppression that remain unaddressed often result in the intergenerational transfer of trauma and trauma responses. In Aotearoa New Zealand, one such act of oppression was the forced removal of Māori children from their families to be placed in a range of state and church managed institutions often for spurious reasons. A Royal Commission of Inquiry in currently underway to investigate what happened to children, young people and vulnerable adults in State and faith-based care in Aotearoa New Zealand between the years 1950-99.  

This project seeks to develop appropriate Kaupapa Māori methodological approaches to tracking those affected by this specific act of historical trauma, any compound effects on the survivors and any intergenerational effects. The research will explore utilisation of existing statistical and other data sets, such as the IDI (Integrated Data Infrastructure) to highlight the trauma responses (and resiliency factors) of those who experienced abuse in care and any traceable intergenerational transmission of trauma to subsequent generations. The project will utilize existing data sets wherever possible and will not involve any ‘in-person’ engagement with affected survivors and whānau. The research will apply a Kaupapa Māori lens to the possibilities of tracking traumatic experiences and resiliency factors to current day outcomes.  

Research Lead(s) and Team  

Dr Belinda Borell  
Dr Emerald Muriwai
Professor Tracey McIntosh
Associate Professor Lara Greaves
Dr Jose Romeo