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 181 - 190 of 270 events.
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Social Security Amendment Act
Changes recommended in the Puao-Te-Ata-Tu report are embodied in this Act. Puao-Te-Ata-Tu recommended the government adopt a bicultural approach to policy formulation and incorporate the “values, cultures and beliefs” of Māori in the formulation of legisla…
Date: 1987 Period: 1972-1989 -
He Tirohanga Rangapu
In April 1988 Labour released the He Tirohanga Rangapu: Partnership Perspectives report focusing on the Department of Māori Affairs and recommending a suite of changes to improve the Crown-Māori institutional relationship that was failing Māori, one of whi…
Date: 1988 Period: 1972-1989 -
State Sector Act
The State Sector Act 1988 was part of a suite of reforms intended to shift the focus of NZ’s social welfare policy from inputs to outputs and outcomes (social investment).[i] The Act made chief executives of government agencies responsible for delivering s…
Date: 1988 Period: 1972-1989 -
The Mason Report
The Committee of Inquiry into Procedures used in Certain Psychiatric Hospitals in Relation to Admission, Discharge or Release on Leave of Certain Classes of Patients, investigated the treatment of patients who had a crossover with the justice system (parti…
Date: 1988 Period: 1972-1989 -
Treaty of Waitangi Act (State Enterprises)
This Act enabled the Waitangi Tribunal to direct the government to transfer certain state-owned-enterprise assets to iwi as part of claim settlements.[i]
Date: 1988 Period: 1972-1989 -
Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 (Oranga Tamariki Act)
Formally recognised the ‘mixed economy’ of child welfare that had operated informally since the 19th century (government agencies, families, and communities).[i] The Act incorporated the Treaty and came out of recommendations from Rangihau’s 1986 report to…
Date: 1989 Period: 1972-1989 -
Department of Māori Affairs abolished
The Department of Maori Affairs was replaced by the Iwi Transition Agency (Te Tira Ahu Iwi), headed by Wira Gardiner. Also established a new policy-focused ministry: Manatū Māori or Ministry of Māori Affairs, which began operations in July 1989.[i] Tasked…
Date: 1989 Period: 1972-1989 -
Education Act
Section 155 provided for the Minister of Education to designate a state school as a Kura Kaupapa by notice in the New Zealand Gazette.
Date: 1989 Period: 1972-1989 -
School Trustees Act
Made it mandatory for all schools at all levels to include Treaty of Waitangi protocols within their charters.[i]
Date: 1989 Period: 1972-1989 -
National Māori Congress established
An iwi-wide response to changes within te ao Māori and Māori–Crown relations.[i]
Date: 1990 Period: 1990-current
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)