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 81 - 90 of 270 events.
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A ‘needy families’ scheme began
This means tested scheme was a highly targeted form of poverty prevention. There was no publicity for the scheme and it could not be applied for. Families came into it via the Social Security Department, the State Advances Corporation, voluntary welfare gr…
Date: 1941 Period: 1938-1971 -
Autonomous Māori War Effort Organisation established
The Māori War Effort Organisation (MWEO) based on representative tribal leadership was established. Its initial function was to assist with recruiting, but the organisation expanded to the production and supply of food, investigation of Māori housing condi…
Date: 1942 Period: 1938-1971 -
Needy Families scheme
Almost 300 families with 1,730 children had been helped through the scheme. Aid was divided fairly evenly between rental subsidies, grants, and the provision of homes.[i]
Date: 1943 Period: 1938-1971 -
Fareham House opened
Fareham House was opened in August 1944, specifically for Māori girls to separate them from female Pākehā ‘sexual delinquents’ on whom they were thought to have detrimental effects. Kuini Te Tau was appointed to run Fareham House in the late 1950s and emph…
Date: 1944 Period: 1938-1971 -
Māori population
More than 500 Māori were working in essential industries during WW2.[i] The Māori population was 100,870 on 31 December 1944, with 19% of Māori living in urban areas.[ii]
Date: 1945 Period: 1938-1971 -
Māori Social and Economic Advancement Act
The Act[i] incorporated MWEO tribal and executive committees into the Native Affairs Department. Māori welfare officers appointed under the Act set up a network of committees and executives concerned with welfare and marae administration. The Act gave tri…
Date: 1945 Period: 1938-1971 -
The Social Security Amendment Act
Introduced universal family benefit. This brought almost every family into the social security system and receiving benefits became a common experience from rich to poor, multiplying the number of parents receiving the family benefit by five.[i] Like its p…
Date: 1945 Period: 1938-1971 -
Support through Needy Families scheme
More than 900 families and more than 5,000 children were helped through the scheme. Support includes: 296 rental subsidies and grants, another 68 rental subsidies, 342 grants for food, bedding or furniture and families moved into 382 homes.[i]
Date: 1946 Period: 1938-1971 -
Māori replaces Native in official usage
This change was legislated in the Maori Purposes Act 1947.
Date: 1947 Period: 1938-1971 -
Responsibility for the Needy Families scheme
The Child Welfare Branch of the Department of Education was responsible for giving practical assistance to large or needy families and was now solely responsible for the ‘Needy Families’ scheme.[i] Work included supervising children from the Pacific Island…
Date: 1948 Period: 1938-1971
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.