Chronology for 1938-1971
Assimilating into universal welfare
Labour’s policies were underpinned by a principle of universality and a vision of the nation as a classless community. Rich, middle-class and poor were linked by the same national system of state support and social services; superannuation, however small, was to be available to every aged person who was not already on another benefit and was an important symbol of citizenship. The ‘system as a whole was removed from ‘the taint of charity’ and became a source of national pride’.[i] go to footnote
This was a period of great demographic change for iwi Māori with the mass migration of its rural population to the cities of New Zealand. The need for workers in essential industries and the post-war labour boom provided rangatahi and whānau Māori with ample employment, 'incomes that were almost equal to those of Pākehā, and access to family welfare benefits that boosted the incomes of large families by around 50 percent.'[ii] go to footnote However, the financial rewards were offset by one or both parents working long hours to cover the costs of city living and it exposed Māori to discrimination. The Department of Māori Affairs played a welfare role in the lives of whānau Māori during this period, with a policy of integrating Māori into the social fabric of ‘mainstream’ New Zealand society. Through housing allocation policies attempts were made to pepper pot Māori in Pākehā suburban streets.[iii] go to footnote Young Māori women who moved to the cities for essential industry work or single rangatahi simply moving to the city for work opportunities were directed into hostels.
Before the 1950s, child welfare agencies endeavoured to keep Māori children with their families or in their own tribal area.[iv] go to footnote In the 1950s, Māori became a disproportionate minority in all areas of child welfare work with a steady growth in Māori juvenile delinquency with recorded Māori offending at three or four times the rate of Pākehā, particularly in the 15–20 age.[v] go to footnote
Chronology events
Displaying 151 - 160 of 270 events.
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Auckland social welfare homes inquiry
An inquiry into allegations of cruel and inhuman punishment of young people in Auckland Social Welfare homes in June 1978. The inquiry was hosted by ACCORD, Ngā Tamatoa, and Arohanui Inc.[i]
Date: 1978 Period: 1972-1989 -
Departmental guidelines for processing abuse cases
The Department formulated preparatory guidelines for the processing of child abuse cases, then established a pilot multi-disciplinary child abuse project to trial the guidelines and assemble a register of abuse cases. Trial project began in Hamilton in ea…
Date: 1978 Period: 1972-1989 -
Tu Tangata introduced
The Department of Māori Affairs introduced the Tu Tangata programme as an attempt to empower Māori and to change focus from a government department with all the power concentrated at one level. Part of this new philosophy was the Kokiri community administr…
Date: 1978 Period: 1972-1989 -
Intensive Foster Care schemes
The Department of Social Welfare established Intensive Foster Care schemes to match more difficult children with carefully selected foster parents, who received training, advice and support.[i]
Date: 1979 Period: 1972-1989 -
Māori Welfare Act 1979 becomes Māori Community Development Act
Said to have symbolised a shift in emphasis away from what was seen as ‘welfare-statism’ towards ‘community empowerment and self-reliance’.[i]
Date: 1979 Period: 1972-1989 -
The Family Court Act
Established the Family Court. Its jurisdiction included marriage and its dissolution, adoption, guardianship, paternity, matrimonial property and spousal and child maintenance. It was later expanded further to include care of children and child protection …
Date: 1980 Period: 1972-1989 -
Borstals closed
The last of the borstals was closed by the Criminal Justice Amendment (No 2) Act 1980.[i]
Date: 1981 Period: 1972-1989 -
Bi-culturism
Hiwi Tauroa, freshly minted Race Relations Conciliator, releases a report called “Race Against Time” in which he argues that race relations in New Zealand needs urgent attention.
Date: 1982 Period: 1972-1989 -
Group Employment Liaison Service established
Group Employment Liaison Service (GELS) was established within the Department of Labour. GEL targeted unemployed with the aim of facilitating access to employment and training programmes via community fieldworkers, most of whom were Māori.[i] GELS was abs…
Date: 1982 Period: 1972-1989 -
Kohanga Reo
The first Kōhanga Reo was supported by the Department of Māori Affairs. A year later, there were 100 (currently over 460). As well as reviving Te Reo Māori, the aims included immersing children and whānau in Māori child rearing practices.[i]
Date: 1982 Period: 1972-1989
Footnotes
- [i] go to main content Tim Garlick, Social Developments: An organizational history of the Ministry of Social Development and its predecessors, 1860-2011, Steele Roberts Aotearoa, Wellington, 2012, p.70.
- [ii] go to main content Melissa Matutina Williams, Panguru and the City, Bridget Williams Books, Wellington, 2010, p. 195.
- [iii] go to main content Urbanisation – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
- [iv] go to main content Bronwyn Dalley, Family Matters, Wellington, 1998, p. 6.
- [v] go to main content Dalley, 1998, p. 192.