“A Safe Space, A Sacred Place”: A Culturally Informed Approach to Healing in a Kaupapa Māori Forensic Mental Health Service

This article explores culturally safe healing practices within Te Tari Kaupapa Māori, an Indigenous-led forensic mental health stream in Aotearoa New Zealand. Despite widespread calls for cultural safety, little research has examined how it can be enacted in forensic environments. This study addresses that gap by identifying what supports healing within this setting. Using a qualitative, Māori-centered, community-partnered design, we analyzed interviews with 15 tāngata whai i te ora (service users), 4 whānau (families), and 24 kaimahi (mental health workers). Findings show that healing is a relational, culturally grounded process structured around six interconnected dimensions. Wairuatanga (spirituality) anchors daily rhythms and meaning-making, while tikanga and kawa (protocols) guide care. Oranga whanaungatanga (relational healing) emphasizes belonging and relational accountability. Ngā kaitiaki tapu protects what is sacred and vulnerable through practices that enhance voice and provide the least restrictive care. Whānau (family members) are partners in healing, and tuakiritanga (identity) is strengthened through cultural programming and mentoring. These findings suggest that cultural safety in forensic settings is achieved by upholding models grounded in Indigenous values rather than adapting mainstream frameworks. Te Tari Kaupapa Māori offers a blueprint for reimagining what forensic mental health could be when built on relational and collective foundations.