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 181 - 190 of 270 events.
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Social Security Amendment Act
Changes recommended in the Puao-Te-Ata-Tu report are embodied in this Act. Puao-Te-Ata-Tu recommended the government adopt a bicultural approach to policy formulation and incorporate the “values, cultures and beliefs” of Māori in the formulation of legisla…
Date: 1987 Period: 1972-1989 -
He Tirohanga Rangapu
In April 1988 Labour released the He Tirohanga Rangapu: Partnership Perspectives report focusing on the Department of Māori Affairs and recommending a suite of changes to improve the Crown-Māori institutional relationship that was failing Māori, one of whi…
Date: 1988 Period: 1972-1989 -
State Sector Act
The State Sector Act 1988 was part of a suite of reforms intended to shift the focus of NZ’s social welfare policy from inputs to outputs and outcomes (social investment).[i] The Act made chief executives of government agencies responsible for delivering s…
Date: 1988 Period: 1972-1989 -
The Mason Report
The Committee of Inquiry into Procedures used in Certain Psychiatric Hospitals in Relation to Admission, Discharge or Release on Leave of Certain Classes of Patients, investigated the treatment of patients who had a crossover with the justice system (parti…
Date: 1988 Period: 1972-1989 -
Treaty of Waitangi Act (State Enterprises)
This Act enabled the Waitangi Tribunal to direct the government to transfer certain state-owned-enterprise assets to iwi as part of claim settlements.[i]
Date: 1988 Period: 1972-1989 -
Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 (Oranga Tamariki Act)
Formally recognised the ‘mixed economy’ of child welfare that had operated informally since the 19th century (government agencies, families, and communities).[i] The Act incorporated the Treaty and came out of recommendations from Rangihau’s 1986 report to…
Date: 1989 Period: 1972-1989 -
Department of Māori Affairs abolished
The Department of Maori Affairs was replaced by the Iwi Transition Agency (Te Tira Ahu Iwi), headed by Wira Gardiner. Also established a new policy-focused ministry: Manatū Māori or Ministry of Māori Affairs, which began operations in July 1989.[i] Tasked…
Date: 1989 Period: 1972-1989 -
Education Act
Section 155 provided for the Minister of Education to designate a state school as a Kura Kaupapa by notice in the New Zealand Gazette.
Date: 1989 Period: 1972-1989 -
School Trustees Act
Made it mandatory for all schools at all levels to include Treaty of Waitangi protocols within their charters.[i]
Date: 1989 Period: 1972-1989 -
National Māori Congress established
An iwi-wide response to changes within te ao Māori and Māori–Crown relations.[i]
Date: 1990 Period: 1990-current
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.