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 261 - 270 of 270 events.
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Covid lockdowns
The first Covid lockdown was March to May 2020. The Alert system was introduced and New Zealand entered various Alert phases throughout 2020 to December 2021, when the Covid Protection Framework was introduced. Early on, many Māori communities established …
Date: 2020 Period: 1990-current -
COVID pandemic measures
The first COVID lockdown was March to May 2020. The Alert Levels system was introduced and NZ entered various phases throughout 2020 to December 2021, when the COVID Protection Framework was introduced. Early on, many Māori communities established their ow…
Date: 2020 Period: 1990-current -
Homelessness Action Plan released
In February 2020, the government released the Aotearoa/New Zealand Homelessness Action Plan. It set out an overarching framework for communities, Māori, Iwi, providers, and government agencies to work together to prevent and reduce homelessness.[i]
Date: 2020 Period: 1990-current -
Mana Orite Relationship Agreement signed
In response to a Māori call for reform of the justice system, the Mana Orite Agreement was developed as a partnership response to creating ‘a future that benefits both Māori and all New Zealanders by transforming the justice system whereby Māori are no lon…
Date: 2020 Period: 1990-current -
Public Service Act replaces State Sector Act
Key features of the new Act are that it: provides a more flexible set of options for how the public service can organise itself to better respond to specific priorities; allows public servants to move between agencies more easily; clearly establishes the …
Date: 2020 Period: 1990-current -
Tamariki Māori in state care
In August 2020, the-Minister for Children Tracey Martin announced that Cabinet would partially repeal the subsequent child provisions introduced in 2016.[i]
Date: 2020 Period: 1990-current -
Oranga Tamariki Urgent Inquiry report released
Waitangi Tribunal releases report: He Paharakeke He Rito Whakakikinga Wharuarua – Oranga Tamariki Urgent Inquiry report. At the heart of this claim was the issue ‘that policies and practices inconsistent with te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi……
Date: 2021 Period: 1990-current -
Release of Covid-related Māori health data
High Court ruled that the Ministry of Health reconsider its decision not to release Māori data to Te Pou Matakana for their use in their COVID-19 health response These rulings focused on whether the Privacy Act and the Health Information Privacy Code cont…
Date: 2021 Period: 1990-current -
Social workers registration
It became mandatory that all people practising as social workers needed to be registered with the Social Workers Registration Board. [i]
Date: 2021 Period: 1990-current -
Whaikaha established
Whaikaha [Ministry of Disabled People] was established in partnership with the community and Māori to support disabled people and whānau who are facing barriers to achieve ordinary life outcomes.[i]
Date: 2022 Period: 1990-current
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.