The New Zealand Government is planning to establish youth justice military-style academies through legislation. Public critique argues they are essentially boot camps, and research shows that these approaches can negatively impact young people who have experienced trauma. This article shares insights from a project funded by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga investigating trauma in rangatahi Māori engaged in serious youth offending. This study explored the perspectives of Kaupapa Māori community-based social workers, youth workers and organisational leaders (n = 11) working with rangatahi Māori who appeared in the youth court for offending. Findings show that mauri and wairua concepts resonate more with professionals working in kaupapa Māori social services than Western trauma-informed concepts. Second, rangatahi Māori use self-protective measures to mask trauma experiences, which are sometimes misunderstood and misinterpreted as defiance. Third, disruptors of trauma and healing pathways are ecologically, relationally and culturally bound. We recommend the use of holistic Kaupapa Māori trauma-informed interventions with rangatahi Māori involved in the youth justice system.