Chronology for 1990-current
Kei hea te rito? Bi-culturalising welfare
Multiple waves of welfare reform occur throughout this period in line with changing government leaders and governments. Between November 1990 and 1999 the National Government welfare reforms were made under Ruth Richardson. Economic and Social Initiative (ESI) outlines proposed social and employment policy changes ‘(Jim Bolger, Ruth Richardson and Bill Birch were the authors)’. This led to the Employment Contracts Act 1991, and eligibility and benefit cuts to increase work incentives, work testing and means testing family benefit via new ‘Family Support’ payments.[i] go to footnote
‘Māori welfare dependency rose while incomes decreased to such an extent that in 1990 the average income of Māori households languished at about 20 percent below the average income for New Zealand households as a whole’.[ii] go to footnote The rate of Māori unemployment continued to climb, reaching 25.4 percent of the total Māori workforce in 1992.’[iii] go to footnote By the end of this period the wellbeing of Māori children remained a dominating issue. In July 2020, there were 4,179 tamariki Māori in state care, representing 69 percent of the total care population. By 31 December 2020, Māori comprised 75 percent of the children and young people currently in the Youth Justice custody of the chief executive. This compared to the nine percent in custody who identified as New Zealand European or other.[iv] go to footnote
Between 1999 and 2008 the Fifth Labour Government placed some emphasis on addressing inequalities and family development. A further round of benefit cuts and beneficiary obligations followed with the National Government 2011–2017. This National Government also focused on more targeted spending through adopting a Social Investment approach.
Iwi Māori sought greater control over their welfare. It was a period of growth of post-settlement agreements or accords, where largely settled iwi were engaged in long-term work with different government departments focusing on a range of cultural, social, economic and environmental outcomes for their people.
Chronology events
Displaying 131 - 140 of 270 events.
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Introduction of integrated schools
The separate Māori school system administered by the Department of Education was abolished. Management of the 105 Māori primary schools and remaining Māori district high schools was transferred to Education Board control. Māori high schools had been closin…
Date: 1969 Period: 1938-1971 -
Juvenile Crime Prevention Section renamed
The section was now known as the Youth Aid Section.[i]
Date: 1969 Period: 1938-1971 -
Status of Children Act
This Act eroded ex-nuptial v nuptial distinctions, dispensed with the term illegitimacy, and suggested a focus on the child as a child rather than a member of a larger unit.[i]
Date: 1969 Period: 1938-1971 -
Child Welfare Division national survey results released
Results of an extensive national survey initiated in 1967 were released. Results showed that Pasifika children and young people had started to be a disproportionate minority in child welfare services. Two or three in every 10,000 children under the age of …
Date: 1970 Period: 1938-1971 -
The Māori Purposes Act
Amended section 25 of the 1962 Act and altered the NZMC’s funding arrangements by replacing the pound-for-pound subsidy system on money raised by Māori Associations with the payment of a Minister-approved annual grant. The NZMC had raised the issue of its …
Date: 1970 Period: 1938-1971 -
Joint ‘J’ Teams
Set up to support young Māori in cities. Included Police, Child Welfare, Māori Affairs and voluntary groups (disbanded in 1980).[i]
Date: 1971 Period: 1938-1971 -
Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Housing
‘The Commission of Inquiry into Housing released its report and recommendations. This was a wide-ranging inquiry and the Commission made 114 recommendations. These included that: Polynesians should be housed in very small, dispersed groups and that large …
Date: 1971 Period: 1938-1971 -
Department of Social Welfare established
Child Welfare Division joined with the Social Security Department in a ‘forced marriage’ to become the Department of Social Welfare.[i] A 1972 report, New Zealand’s first comprehensive inquiry into child abuse, indicated there was relatively little child …
Date: 1972 Period: 1972-1989 -
Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit opened
The Unit operated for six years but children and young people may have been treated in Lake Alice prior to the unit being opened.[i]
Date: 1972 Period: 1972-1989 -
National Housing Commission
The Commission undertook its last major survey of serious housing need in 1988. This survey comprised half of New Zealand’s population representing the areas considered to have the most housing need. In these areas, it was estimated that 17,500 households …
Date: 1972 Period: 1972-1989
Footnotes
- [i] go to main content Ben Loughrey-Webb, ‘The Welfare Reforms of the Fourth (1990-99) and Fifth (2008-2014) National Governments: A Critical Analysis and Evaluation’, MA Thesis, University of Otago, 2015, pp. 63-8.
- [ii] go to main content Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney, Aroha Harris, Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History, Bridget Williams Books, Wellington, 2014, p. 426.
- [iii] go to main content Tangata Whenua, p. 426.
- [iv] go to main content For this and further examples, see: He Pāharakeke, he Rito Whakakīkinga Whāruarua (justice.govt.nz)