Chronology for 1900-1937
On the fringes of mono-cultural welfare
Most Māori lived in rural enclaves of Aotearoa New Zealand and practiced customary ways of living and caring for whānau. However, assimilationist policies and a capitalist economic framework were beginning to impact, especially with the migration of adults in search of paid work. By 1920, Māori land holdings had decreased to 8% of total New Zealand lands and the population had increased from 56,987 in 1921 to 82,326 in 1936.[i] go to footnote Factors contributing to this significant population growth, which continued beyond the 1920s, were ‘falls in infant and child mortality, especially but not exclusively from the end of the 19th century to 1976’, ‘reductions in mortality at older ages’, and ‘the high relative fertility of Māori women’.[ii] go to footnote While Māori women and children were at the forefront of the recovery of te ao Māori, they were also targets of state messaging about their ‘proper’ family roles and places in New Zealand society.
Western concepts of child welfare were introduced legislatively in the early 20th century (whāngai restrictions to whenua) and enforced increasingly throughout the century as Māori children began to enter the child juvenile system. Access to pensions and benefits are either denied or paid at a lower rate than for Pākehā.
Iwi Māori continued to fight for hapū autonomy and control over their own welfare. Wāhine Māori, such as Whina Cooper and Te Puea Hērangi, were among Māori leaders pushing for tikanga-based solutions for the welbeing of their people and Māori nationwide.[iii] go to footnote
Chronology events
Displaying 161 - 170 of 270 events.
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Remote Area Policy
Provision was made in policy guidelines to refuse to grant or cancel an Unemployment Benefit when a person has deliberately and without good reason moved to a locality where there is no work available either with the intention of living on the benefit in a…
Date: 1982 Period: 1972-1989 -
Maatua Whāngai programme
The programme was established to centralise whānau, hapū and iwi in all welfare work. It aimed to keep Māori young people and children among their whānau or hapū and out of government institutions.[i] The programme was founded on the Tu Tangata principle o…
Date: 1983 Period: 1972-1989 -
Race Relations Conciliator’s report on youth and law
Report argued the inadequacy of representation for Māori and general appropriateness of the court system for Māori.[i]
Date: 1983 Period: 1972-1989 -
DSW accused of racism
The Women’s Anti-Racism Action Group (WARAG) accused the Department of Social Welfare of practising institutional racism in that the framework of the Department (staffing, training, legislation and policies) reflected a relentlessly Pākehā view of society …
Date: 1984 Period: 1972-1989 -
Fourth Labour Government elected July 1984
The fourth Labour Government in power from 1984 to 1990. Minister of Finance, Roger Douglas, introduces neoliberal economic reforms between 1984 and 1988. Known as Rogernomics, ‘the government removed a swathe of regulations and subsidies, privatised state…
Date: 1984 Period: 1972-1989 -
Hui Taumata
Hui Taumata (Māori Economic Development Conference), convened by Koro Wētere, was held at Parliament and spanned three days. Leaders asked the government to grant more authority which led to greater awareness amongst government departments of Māori concern…
Date: 1984 Period: 1972-1989 -
Unemployment Benefit: Remote area policy clarified
It was accepted that a person had a good reason for relocating to a remote area (and could therefore continue to be eligible for the Unemployment Benefit) if they had previous connections with the area or previous lengthy residence. This included Māori ret…
Date: 1984 Period: 1972-1989 -
A Māori Perspective for DSW
A Ministerial Advisory Committee, chaired by John Te Rangi-Aniwaniwa Rangihau, was established to: ‘advise the Minister of Social Welfare on the most appropriate means to achieve the goal of an approach which would meet the needs of Māori in policy, planni…
Date: 1985 Period: 1972-1989 -
Maatua Whāngai review
The review revealed problems arising from hasty implementation and the lack of a whakapapa-based concept of community.[i]
Date: 1985 Period: 1972-1989 -
Mana Enterprises Scheme initiated
Funds allocated by the Department of Māori to facilitate the entry of Māori into business through Māori authorities, usually tribal but also urban.
Date: 1985 Period: 1972-1989
Footnotes
- [i] go to main content The New Zealand Official Year Book 1945
- [ii] go to main content Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney, Aroha Harris, Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History, Bridget Williams Books, Wellington, 2014, p. 491.
- [iii] go to main content Hērangi, Te Kirihaehae Te Puea – Dictionary of New Zealand Biography – Te Ara; Cooper, Whina – Dictionary of New Zealand Biography – Te Ara.