Chronology for 1835-1899
The colonial redistribution of welfare: Dismantling hapū ora
This period opens with a politically and socio-economically robust iwi Māori population of around 80,000 people.[i] go to footnote Whenua and whakapapa form the basis of hapū and whānau wellbeing. W.H. Oliver argues that the first instrument of social policy in New Zealand was the system set up by Hobson in 1840 for the purchase and resale to settlers of Māori land.[ii] go to footnote Pākehā welfare was dependent on the continued dispossession of Māori land.[iii]go to footnote
The New Zealand Wars (1845–1872) either directly or indirectly impacted all iwi Māori throughout New Zealand.[iv] go to footnote Related legislative measures enabled the Crown to alienate Māori land and taonga across the motu prior to and beyond the next century via confiscation, land tenure reforms, local legislative measures and contested land purchases.
Iwi Māori assertions of rangatiratanga and resistance to the alienation of lands occurred across the motu, either physically, through the courts, via direct petitioning to the government or through the simple occupation of lands. Such measures led to some government concessions, such as the Sims Commission and South Island Landless Natives Act 1906,[v] go to footnote but after 1872 resistance also sometimes led to the government’s use of force in the later 19th century and well into the 20th century. (eg, Parihaka in 1881, Waima in 1898, Takaparawhāu in 1978).[vi] go to footnote
By the end of the 19th century Māori were a minority of the national. In 1896 the Māori population hit an all-time low of 42,650, compared to a Pākehā population of just over 700,000. Although the Māori population was recovering, their communities were reeling from land alienation, decline of resources, indebtedness, diseases and Māori communities survived on subsistence economies, with a growing dependence on paid work.
Māori were either excluded or faced barriers to accessing welfare support introduced during this period.
Chronology events
Displaying 141 - 150 of 270 events.
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Royal Commission on Social Security
Stated that the purpose of social security was to provide dependent people with ‘…a standard of living consistent with human dignity…irrespective of the cause of dependency’.[i]
Date: 1972 Period: 1972-1989 -
Youths in residential institutions
The number of young people in residential institutions tripled between 1948 and 1972. Government financial transfers to the voluntary sector increased markedly during this period.[i]
Date: 1972 Period: 1972-1989 -
Introduction of the Domestic Purposes Benefit
Financial support for sole parents caring for dependent children, regardless of situation introduced by the Fourth Labour Government.[i]
Date: 1973 Period: 1972-1989 -
1967 Māori Affairs Act repealed
Despite the repeal, the damage of the last seven years in regards to the alienation of Māori land had already been done.[i]
Date: 1974 Period: 1972-1989 -
Children and Young Persons Act
The Children and Young Persons Act 1974 replaced the Child Welfare Act 1925. The Act was founded on the principle of the interests of the child or young person as the first and paramount consideration.[i]
Date: 1974 Period: 1972-1989 -
The Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975
This Act established the Waitangi Tribunal.[i]
Date: 1975 Period: 1972-1989 -
McCombs Report (Towards Partnership)
Criticised the lack of Māori, Pacific people and women in school governance, the isolation of school boards from communities and the concentration of power in the Department of Education.[i]
Date: 1976 Period: 1972-1989 -
Domestic Purposes Benefit Review Committee
Established under the Third National Government, the committee’s report stated that the DPB was needed and should be retained.[i]
Date: 1977 Period: 1972-1989 -
National Superannuation Scheme redesigned
The redesign took place under a National government. Superannuation was initially paid from the age of 60 years, but cutbacks were made throughout the following decades.[i]
Date: 1977 Period: 1972-1989 -
Raupuora project launched by MWWL
Led by Erihapeti Murchie, the report analysed the health perceptions of 1,177 Māori women.[i]
Date: 1977 Period: 1972-1989
Footnotes
- [i] go to main content ‘The first Māori census was attempted in 1857–58’. Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney, Aroha Harris, Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History, Bridget Williams Books, Wellington, 2014, p. 246. Earlier censuses were taken during the 1840s, however these were particular to regions and settlements and from there estimates were made by missionaries and colonists as to what the national population level might have been. Salmond and other prominent authors are sceptical of these figures and believe the numbers were greater. A census of Māori was attempted in 1867 but warfare prevented its completion. Tangata Whenua, Appendix One, p. 490.
- [ii] go to main content Cited in Margaret Tennant, Past Judgement: Social Policy in New Zealand History, co-edited with Bronwyn Dalley, 2004, p. 17.; ‘The April report: report of the Royal Commission on Social Policy’, Volume 1: New Zealand Today, New Zealand Royal Commission on Social Policy, Wellington, 1988, pp. 4–5.
- [iii] go to main content Tennant, 2004, p. 41.
- [iv] go to main content For more detailed information see the following link: https://teara.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-wars
- [v] go to main content For more information see: Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney, Aroha Harris, Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History, Bridget Williams Books, Wellington, 2014, pp. 256–301, and https://teara.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-wars
- [vi] go to main content Tangata Whenua, pp.322-3.