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 161 - 170 of 270 events.
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Remote Area Policy
Provision was made in policy guidelines to refuse to grant or cancel an Unemployment Benefit when a person has deliberately and without good reason moved to a locality where there is no work available either with the intention of living on the benefit in a…
Date: 1982 Period: 1972-1989 -
Maatua Whāngai programme
The programme was established to centralise whānau, hapū and iwi in all welfare work. It aimed to keep Māori young people and children among their whānau or hapū and out of government institutions.[i] The programme was founded on the Tu Tangata principle o…
Date: 1983 Period: 1972-1989 -
Race Relations Conciliator’s report on youth and law
Report argued the inadequacy of representation for Māori and general appropriateness of the court system for Māori.[i]
Date: 1983 Period: 1972-1989 -
DSW accused of racism
The Women’s Anti-Racism Action Group (WARAG) accused the Department of Social Welfare of practising institutional racism in that the framework of the Department (staffing, training, legislation and policies) reflected a relentlessly Pākehā view of society …
Date: 1984 Period: 1972-1989 -
Fourth Labour Government elected July 1984
The fourth Labour Government in power from 1984 to 1990. Minister of Finance, Roger Douglas, introduces neoliberal economic reforms between 1984 and 1988. Known as Rogernomics, ‘the government removed a swathe of regulations and subsidies, privatised state…
Date: 1984 Period: 1972-1989 -
Hui Taumata
Hui Taumata (Māori Economic Development Conference), convened by Koro Wētere, was held at Parliament and spanned three days. Leaders asked the government to grant more authority which led to greater awareness amongst government departments of Māori concern…
Date: 1984 Period: 1972-1989 -
Unemployment Benefit: Remote area policy clarified
It was accepted that a person had a good reason for relocating to a remote area (and could therefore continue to be eligible for the Unemployment Benefit) if they had previous connections with the area or previous lengthy residence. This included Māori ret…
Date: 1984 Period: 1972-1989 -
A Māori Perspective for DSW
A Ministerial Advisory Committee, chaired by John Te Rangi-Aniwaniwa Rangihau, was established to: ‘advise the Minister of Social Welfare on the most appropriate means to achieve the goal of an approach which would meet the needs of Māori in policy, planni…
Date: 1985 Period: 1972-1989 -
Maatua Whāngai review
The review revealed problems arising from hasty implementation and the lack of a whakapapa-based concept of community.[i]
Date: 1985 Period: 1972-1989 -
Mana Enterprises Scheme initiated
Funds allocated by the Department of Māori to facilitate the entry of Māori into business through Māori authorities, usually tribal but also urban.
Date: 1985 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)