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 201 - 210 of 270 events.
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The Fiscal Envelope policy
This policy capped all historical Treaty settlements at one billion dollars. Regional hui were held 1994-95 to discuss the Fiscal Envelope which was unanimously rejected by Māori.[i]
Date: 1994 Period: 1990-current -
Community Wage and Job Seeker agreements
Agreements/contracts introduced for up to 20 hours per week. Work for the dole programme replaced unemployment, sickness and training benefits.[i]
Date: 1996 Period: 1990-current -
Hui Whakapiripiri
This hui on strategic directions for Māori health led to a Declaration for Māori Health Researchers and reinforced the belief that research on Māori should be by Māori and for Māori.[i]
Date: 1996 Period: 1990-current -
Post-election briefing
The paper: Strategic Directions: post-election briefing (Wellington: Department of Social Welfare, 1996) proposed further welfare reforms to address welfare dependency.[i]
Date: 1996 Period: 1990-current -
Code of Social and Family Responsibility
Attempted to further strengthen the responsibility of families and communities to meet their own needs but was met with strong resistance and dropped.[i]
Date: 1997 Period: 1990-current -
Community Wage Programme changes
Sickness benefits reduced to same as unemployment benefit.[i]
Date: 1997 Period: 1990-current -
Domestic Purposes Benefit cuts
Including: parents with children aged between 7 and 13 being required to look for part-time work, or full-time work if children were aged over 14.[i]
Date: 1997 Period: 1990-current -
Tῡ Mana Motuhake conference
The Tῡ Mana Motuhake – Beyond Dependency conference was a four-day event sponsored by MSD and other government agencies including Ministries of Health, Women’s Affairs and Youth Affairs and NZ Police as well as Te Puni Kōkiri. The conference ‘aimed to enco…
Date: 1997 Period: 1990-current -
Inequalities highlighed in TPK report
Te Puni Kōkiri report "Progress Towards Closing the Social and Economic Gaps Between Māori and non-Māori" highlights significant inequalities in education, employment, economic and health status. In January 1998, Tau Hēnare, the Minister of Māori Affairs…
Date: 1998 Period: 1990-current -
Super 2000 Task Force appointed
The Superannuation 2000 Task Force was charged with finding a sustainable superannuation solution for New Zealand. In 1999, it commissioned a comprehensive survey of the living standards of older people. Three separate surveys were conducted to meet the ob…
Date: 1998 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.