Culturally safe trauma-informed care for youth in residential care: Addressing systemic trauma in New Zealand

New Zealand relies heavily on secure residential care compared to international standards. Young people in residential care experience disproportionately high rates of trauma and often present with complex mental health needs. Māori, the Indigenous people of New Zealand, represent over half of all young people in State care, reflecting enduring systemic inequities and the intergenerational impacts of colonization. This practice perspective examines the extent to which trauma-informed care is implemented in policies, models of care, and practice within State care and protection residences and supervised group homes in New Zealand. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we engaged with care-experienced youth (aged 18-25 years) and practice-experienced key informants to inform the study. We identified four themes: disconnection from identity, family, community, and culture; containment and punishment within care; disconnection to reconnection through safe and continuous relationships; and the transformational changes needed in the care system. There is little evidence that a trauma-informed model of care is being implemented in practice within State care settings. Exposure to State care residences created cumulative trauma for Māori youth, demonstrating the urgent need to implement a culturally safe trauma-informed model of care to meet the needs of youth in State care. This study highlights the urgent need to implement a culturally safe, trauma-informed model of care that responds to the complex needs of youth in State care. It also identifies the need for a whole-of-government and community approach to transform the wider State care system. • Māori youth are over-represented in State care in New Zealand. • Secure residential care use in NZ is high compared to international standards. • First NZ study to interview care-experienced youth and staff on State care. • Exposure to State care creates additional trauma for young people. • Culturally safe, trauma-informed care urgently needed in NZ State care settings. • Systemic reform of NZ State care system recommended.