Positioning Historical Trauma Theory within Aotearoa new Zealand
Open accessAbstract
This article explores the relevance of historical trauma theory for Māori research. In exploring the impact of historical trauma upon Māori it has become clear that the terminology associated with historical trauma theory is considered controversial in Aotearoa New Zealand. As such, this article provides an overview of key definitions relevant to historical trauma and explores these in relation to recent reporting related to the use of the terms “holocaust” and “genocide” in the context of colonization in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is argued that in order to engage fully with the impacts of colonization on Māori wellbeing we must articulate fully the impact of historical trauma events and the contribution of those events to the negative health disparities experienced by many of our whānau (extended family), hapū (sub-tribes) and iwi (tribes).
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Indigenous groups across the globe have experienced the impacts of colonization, historical trauma and racism.
“Indigenous groups across the globe have experienced the impacts of colonization, historical trauma and racism (for example, in Guatemala and New Zealand, see Beristain et al., 2000; Pihama et al., 2014)”
From Culturally tailored substance use interventions for Indigenous people of North America: a systematic review (2023) · cites this paper as Pihama et al., 2014
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- Authors
- Pihama, L., Reynolds, P., Smith, C., Reid, J., Smith, L. T., & Nana, R. T.
- Affiliations
- Māori and Indigenous Analysis, Associate Professor, Te Kotahi Research Institute, Hamilton, New Zealand.
- Te Atawhai o te Ao: Māori Institute for Environment and Health, Whanganui.
- Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Christchurch, New Zealand.
- University of Waikato (NZ)
- Kakariki Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand.
- Venue
- AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2014-09
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 248-262
- ISSN
- 1174-1740 (ISSN-L)
- 1177-1801
- OpenAlex
- W1905556413
- Cited by
- 199
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 8.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- AlterNative An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples (publishedVersion)
- Research Commons (University of Waikato) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Indigenous Cultures and History
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Keywords
- Māori, colonization, Holocaust terminology, Māori wellbeing, health disparities, whānau, hapū, iwi, New Zealand
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