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 171 - 180 of 270 events.
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Report on institutional racism released
The Ministerial Advisory Committee report revealed that 62% of children in residential homes in the Auckland area were Māori.[i] The Māori Advisory Unit concluded that the Department was racist in the institutional sense; it was a typical, hierarchical bu…
Date: 1985 Period: 1972-1989 -
The Adult Adoption Information Act
Enabled adopted children and birth parents to access information about each other, but allowed birth parents to request a veto on their information so that the child would not have access to the information.[i]
Date: 1985 Period: 1972-1989 -
Waitangi Tribunal powers extended
The Waitangi Tribunal empowered to investigate Treaty claims dating back to 1840.[i]
Date: 1985 Period: 1972-1989 -
Puao-Te-Ata-Tu released
The Minister of Social Welfare Ann Hercus released Puao-te-ata-tu (Report of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on a Māori Perspective for Social Welfare) after the end of a special ministerial inquiry led by John Rangihau involving over 60 hui across the …
Date: 1986 Period: 1972-1989 -
Royal Commission on Social Policy established
In 1986 the government established the Royal Commission on Social Policy, which published its report in 1988. This was occurring at the same time as Puao-te-ata- tu. Commissioners appointed were Sir Ivor Richardson [Chair], Ann Ballin, Marion Bruce, Len Co…
Date: 1986 Period: 1972-1989 -
Te Whainga i Te Tika – In Search of Justice
The report of the Advisory Committee on Legal Services raised concerns about: children lacking effective legal protections; young people not understanding what was happening in courtrooms; institutional racism; and identified children and young people unde…
Date: 1986 Period: 1972-1989 -
Mana Enterprises Development Programme
Mana Enterprises Development Programme and MACCESS – Māori Access Schemes – provided small business loans to Māori business initiatives, and subsidised employment schemes tailored to Māori.[i] Te Whānau o Waipareira was designated by the Department of Mao…
Date: 1987 Period: 1972-1989 -
Māori Language Act
Te reo Māori becomes an official language.[i]
Date: 1987 Period: 1972-1989 -
Māori Women's Development Fund
Established by the Māori Women’s Welfare League with a grant from the Mana Enterprise Development Committee.[i]
Date: 1987 Period: 1972-1989 -
NZMC v AG court case
Colloquially known as the 'Lands Case', NZ Māori Council v The Attorney-General is the first time that the Treaty principles are articulated in the Courts, specifically the five principles articulated by the Appeal Court judges.
Date: 1987 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.