Ki te ū o te Ūkaipō-Wāhine Māori and Reintegration Support: Examining the Intersection of Gender, Indigeneity, and Colonialism

<p><strong>Wāhine Māori (Indigenous women of Aotearoa) constitute sixty-three percent of the female prison population in Aotearoa New Zealand, making them one of the most incarcerated Indigenous groups worldwide. Despite their overrepresentation in the justice system, there is a critical gap in understanding their re-entry experiences, particularly from an intersectional lens that considers the role of gender, culture, and socio-economic realities. Effective reintegration support is essential for breaking the cycles of incarceration, yet the extent to which existing systems meet the needs of wāhine Māori remains unclear.</strong></p><p>This study, underpinned by Kaupapa Māori and Mana Wahine theories, explores reintegration support systems for wāhine Māori through the intersection of gender and indigeneity. Seventeen formerly incarcerated wāhine Māori participated in semi-structured interviews. Through pūrākau¬–a Māori storytelling approach–three themes emerged: (1) re-entry is a multidimensional challenge; (2) the impact of displacement and disconnection on re-entry support; and (3) transformation through reclaiming agency. The findings highlight that incarceration disrupts social support systems, leaving whānau (family) as the primary–but often strained–source of support. Five critical insights emerged: (1) Whānau is a source of care and conflict; (2) support must be wāhine Māori-led and holistic; (3) social networks are undervalued in re-entry; (4) culture is vital yet missing in re-entry programmes; and (5) unrecognised emotions and efforts of wāhine Māori influence re-entry outcomes. This research addresses the gap in re-entry studies by providing insights into the unique support needs of wāhine Māori. It offers recommendations for health and social services, justice policy, and future research while emphasising the significance of Te Ūkaipō, a Māori concept of belonging and connection, in supporting healing, recovery, and successful reintegration for wāhine Māori.</p>