Duff, MPaki, WButler, RMcSweeney, CMcKenna, B2024-02-072024-02-072023-02-16International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, ISSN: 1499-9013 (Print); 1932-9903 (Online), Informa UK Limited, 22(4), 1-12. doi: 10.1080/14999013.2023.21785551499-90131932-9903http://hdl.handle.net/10292/17191There is a relative lack of research focused on people with intellectual disabilities within forensic settings and limited information describing models of care. This article describes the process of enquiry and information gathering that was synthesized to develop a specific model of care for a specialist forensic intellectual disability secure care unit within a forensic mental health service in Aotearoa (New Zealand). The obligations to address the over representation of tāngata whenua (Māori; Indigenous people of Aotearoa) and to resist the dominant Western and mental health paradigms being ineffectively imposed within this specialist service, were acknowledged as central challenges. A literature review, consultation with tāngata whaikaha hinengaro (service users) and Māori cultural input provided a platform to synthesize diverse perspectives. This resulted in the weaving together of the important elements necessary in a model of care, to optimize specialist forensic intellectual disability care and rehabilitation in Aotearoa. This article has an emphasis on the research literature, but is not a research project, rather it is a description of the process leading to a negotiated model of care to achieve equity.© 2023 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/5201 Applied and Developmental Psychology5204 Cognitive and Computational Psychology44 Human Society52 Psychology4409 Social WorkBrain DisordersMental Health7.1 Individual care needs8 Health and social care services research7 Management of diseases and conditions8.1 Organisation and delivery of servicesMental health3 Good Health and Well Being1103 Clinical Sciences1701 Psychology1801 Law4402 Criminology5201 Applied and developmental psychology5205 Social and personality psychologyJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1080/14999013.2023.2178555