Ma te matau, ka ora: The use of traditional Indigenous knowledge to support contemporary rangatahi Maori who self-injure

International understanding of, and interventions for, self-injury are grounded in definitions and models that are based on a worldview that, for some rangatahi Maori (Maori youth), differ from their own lived realities. In this paper we explore the potential that traditional knowledge has for enabling rangatahi and whanau (families) to understand self-injury within a culturally-relevant context. Korero tuku iho (traditions or stories of the past) are affirming of behaviours that, in modern society, would be considered self-injury. These korero tuku iho have been passed down over generations and, as such, are grounded in traditional Maori values and beliefs. This knowledge can be applied to the behaviours rangatahi Maori engage in and provide a culturally-grounded context, rationale and mechanisms for healing when rangatahi self-injure. Learning of these behaviours facilitates an opportunity for rangatahi to reconnect and learn more about their culture.