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 151 - 160 of 270 events.
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Auckland social welfare homes inquiry
An inquiry into allegations of cruel and inhuman punishment of young people in Auckland Social Welfare homes in June 1978. The inquiry was hosted by ACCORD, Ngā Tamatoa, and Arohanui Inc.[i]
Date: 1978 Period: 1972-1989 -
Departmental guidelines for processing abuse cases
The Department formulated preparatory guidelines for the processing of child abuse cases, then established a pilot multi-disciplinary child abuse project to trial the guidelines and assemble a register of abuse cases. Trial project began in Hamilton in ea…
Date: 1978 Period: 1972-1989 -
Tu Tangata introduced
The Department of Māori Affairs introduced the Tu Tangata programme as an attempt to empower Māori and to change focus from a government department with all the power concentrated at one level. Part of this new philosophy was the Kokiri community administr…
Date: 1978 Period: 1972-1989 -
Intensive Foster Care schemes
The Department of Social Welfare established Intensive Foster Care schemes to match more difficult children with carefully selected foster parents, who received training, advice and support.[i]
Date: 1979 Period: 1972-1989 -
Māori Welfare Act 1979 becomes Māori Community Development Act
Said to have symbolised a shift in emphasis away from what was seen as ‘welfare-statism’ towards ‘community empowerment and self-reliance’.[i]
Date: 1979 Period: 1972-1989 -
The Family Court Act
Established the Family Court. Its jurisdiction included marriage and its dissolution, adoption, guardianship, paternity, matrimonial property and spousal and child maintenance. It was later expanded further to include care of children and child protection …
Date: 1980 Period: 1972-1989 -
Borstals closed
The last of the borstals was closed by the Criminal Justice Amendment (No 2) Act 1980.[i]
Date: 1981 Period: 1972-1989 -
Bi-culturism
Hiwi Tauroa, freshly minted Race Relations Conciliator, releases a report called “Race Against Time” in which he argues that race relations in New Zealand needs urgent attention.
Date: 1982 Period: 1972-1989 -
Group Employment Liaison Service established
Group Employment Liaison Service (GELS) was established within the Department of Labour. GEL targeted unemployed with the aim of facilitating access to employment and training programmes via community fieldworkers, most of whom were Māori.[i] GELS was abs…
Date: 1982 Period: 1972-1989 -
Kohanga Reo
The first Kōhanga Reo was supported by the Department of Māori Affairs. A year later, there were 100 (currently over 460). As well as reviving Te Reo Māori, the aims included immersing children and whānau in Māori child rearing practices.[i]
Date: 1982 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.