Developing methodological approaches to tracking historical trauma

About this research

Project Summary 

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 recent Royal Commission of Inquiry was undertaken 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 sought to develop appropriate Kaupapa Māori methodological approaches to track those affected by this specific act of historical trauma, any compound effects on the survivors and any intergenerational effects. The research explored 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.    

Research Questions

1. What might Kaupapa Māori methodology reveal about examining real time effects of historical trauma for Māori abused in state and faith-based care during 1950-1999 and their descendants?
2. What effects can already be ascertained using current data sets without burdening affected whānau?
3. What opportunities exist for whānau to affect their own stories and whānau narratives with available data sources?

Lead Researcher 

Dr Belinda Borell, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Te Whakatōhea, Massey University

Research Team

Dr Emerald Muriwai, Ngāti Ira, Ngāi Tamahaua, Ngāti Patumoana, Te Whakatōhea & Airihi, Auckland DHB

Professor Tracey McIntosh, Tūhoe, University of Auckland

Assoc Prof Lara Greaves, Ngāpuhi, Victoria University of Wellington

Dr Jose Romeo, Massey University

Highlights

• Groundbreaking use of IDI to trace trauma-related health and mortality outcomes
• Showed stark inequalities in life expectancy and death causes for care cohort
• Built a kaupapa Māori methodological model for historical trauma analysis
• Demonstrated the utility of big data in driving Indigenous justice narratives

Select Outputs

Borell, B., & Romeo, J. (2024, November 12). Beyond the “intellectual conversation”: What the IDI can reveal about Māori in state care. International Indigenous Research Conference, Auckland

Borell, B., & Romeo, J. (2025, February 5). 24 years of life lost: People placed in state care have died earlier, more violent deaths – new study. The Conversation.
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