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 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 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.