Logan Hamley, Yvonne Ualesi
Across contexts, Māori and Pasifika youth continue to be positioned as a criminal or “wicked” problem to address, and the subject of moral panics ( Roguski & Tauri, 2013 ) whether concerns are raised about youth gangs ( Tunufa&s;i, 2017 ), ram raids ( Howie & Block, 2023 ), or general violence ( Cunneen, 2020 ; Webb et al., 2022 ). This representation of Indigenous youth reflects their wider positioning within systems of power that continue to criminalise Indigenous peoples. This chapter aims to provide a brief introduction to how structural and social factors play a considerable role in the context of youth justice for Māori and Pasifika peoples.