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 231 - 240 of 270 events.
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Māori-led approaches to family violence
In April 2008, at a national summit hosted by Tainui and opened by King Tuheitia and held at Hopuhopu marae, Māori leaders in attendance proposed new strengths-based and Māori-led approaches to Māori family violence, resulting in the E Tu Whānau initiative…
Date: 2008 Period: 1990-current -
‘Future Focus’ welfare reforms
The fifth National Government-led coalition embarked on an ambitious programme of welfare reform – the largest such programme since major cuts to welfare benefit rates in the early 1990s. The first phase was the Future Focus initiative. From late September…
Date: 2010 Period: 1990-current -
Tamariki in state care
The number of Māori children in care rose from 54.7% in June 2013 to 61.2% of children in care in 2017. The Pākehā proportion of children in care over the same period reduced from 33.2% to 26%.[i] Between 2015 and 2018, the total number of newborn babies (…
Date: 2010 Period: 1990-current -
Taskforce on Whānau-centred Initiatives
MSD provided administrative support to the Whānau Ora taskforce set up in 2009 to address concerns about health and social service providers being too slow and focused on individuals rather than whānau wellbeing and capabilities. The Taskforce reported to …
Date: 2010 Period: 1990-current -
Welfare Working Group (WWG) established
Introduced by the National Government, the WWG, in its final report, summarised its recommendations as: ‘a plan for a large scale and comprehensive reform of the welfare system to reduce long-term welfare dependency.’ Two key elements were the introduction…
Date: 2010 Period: 1990-current -
Whānau Ora policy
Whānau Ora – an interagency approach to providing services and opportunities to all New Zealand families in need –was also about the transformation of whānau (with whānau setting their own direction). It was driven by a focus on outcomes that whānau would …
Date: 2010 Period: 1990-current -
Christchurch earthquake
A major earthquake strikes Christchurch and surrounding areas. Ngāi Tahu becomes a statutory partner with Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA). Ngai Tahu and Ngā Mātā Waka from across the country established the Māori Recovery Network reaching o…
Date: 2011 Period: 1990-current -
Investment approach announced
In November 2011 the government announced that a long-term fiscal liability focus, or ‘investment approach’, would underpin its future welfare reform programme.[i]
Date: 2011 Period: 1990-current -
Ko Aotearoa Tēnei released
The Waitangi Tribunal released the Wai 262 report: Ko Aotearoa Tēnei. It recommended ‘wide-ranging reforms to laws and policies affecting Māori culture and identity and [called] for the Crown-Māori relationship to move beyond grievance to a new era based o…
Date: 2011 Period: 1990-current -
Te Hiku o Te Ika Iwi signed
The Crown Social Development and Wellbeing Accord entailed Te Hiku Iwi and the Crown working in partnership towards the cultural, social and economic prosperity of the communities, whānau, hapū and iwi of Te Hiku. The Ministry of Social Development was one…
Date: 2013 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.