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 221 - 230 of 270 events.
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Whānau Ora
Whānau Ora becomes part of Ministry of Health’s strategy for Māori health.[i]
Date: 2002 Period: 1990-current -
Families Commission established
The focus of the Commission was as an advocate for NZ families, with the Act also providing for identifying factors that support resilience and strength of families. Importantly, the term ‘family’ is broadly defined to include ‘whānau’. The Commission had …
Date: 2003 Period: 1990-current -
Housing Innovation Fund established
The Housing Innovation Fund, renamed The Social Housing fund from 1 July 2011, was established to increase the availability of rental housing and home ownership opportunities for low-income households and people with special needs. Funding was also availab…
Date: 2003 Period: 1990-current -
National Urban Māori Authority (NUMA) founded
NUMA represents seven affiliated urban Māori authorities in five urban centres across New Zealand. It is responsible for the delivery of approximately 300 whānau and community-based services across the areas of education, health, housing, justice, and soci…
Date: 2003 Period: 1990-current -
Social Workers required to be registered
In 2003 the Social Workers Registration Act was passed to prevent any unregistered person from claiming to be a social worker.[i]
Date: 2003 Period: 1990-current -
Hui Taumata
A national hui focused on accelerating Māori economic development, held at Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington from 1-3 March 2005. The vision for Hui Taumata 2005 was to expand Māori economic pathways.[i]
Date: 2005 Period: 1990-current -
Iwi Chairs Forum convened
The Iwi Chairs Forum was convened at a hui at Takahanga Marae in Kaikōura. The forum is made up of the chairs of iwi governance entities who hold regular meetings to discuss matters of national interest to iwi and Māori more broadly and represents, accordi…
Date: 2005 Period: 1990-current -
Child, Youth & Family integrated into MSD
The Child, Youth & Family business unit of the Department of Social Welfare was fully integrated into the Ministry of Social Development.[i]
Date: 2006 Period: 1990-current -
Claims Resolution Team
Set up within the Ministry of Social Development to respond to claims of historic abuse or neglect against Child, Youth and Family or its predecessor entities.[i]
Date: 2006 Period: 1990-current -
Towards a Māori Statistics Framework presented at UN
The Towards a Māori Statistics Framework paper was presented to the 2006 UN Forum. Discussions at this UN Forum included Indigenous Peoples and Indicators of Wellbeing.[i]
Date: 2006 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.