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 31 - 40 of 270 events.
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Government Advances to Settlers Act
Established the Government Advances to Settlers Office with the original purpose of providing cheap land for farmers in a period of falling overseas prices. It also allowed the government to lend to rural settlers who owned land but had limited access to c…
Date: 1894 Period: 1835-1899 -
Kotahitanga Parliament drafts Native Rights Bill
The Bill was tabled in Parliament by Māori MPs. It sought the abolition of the Native Land Court, the right of Māori to make their own land laws, and Māori control of reserved land and land developments.[i] Parliament rejected the Native Rights Bill in 189…
Date: 1894 Period: 1835-1899 -
Old-age Pension Act
The first statutory provision for old-age pensions. Excludes Māori receiving money under the Civil List Act 1873. Most Māori received less than the full rate and were likely deterred by application requirements, such as providing proof of birth.[i] Neverth…
Date: 1898 Period: 1835-1899 -
Māori Councils Act
Under the Māori Councils Act, Māori settlements were empowered to elect a marae committee (Komiti Marae) – the individual members of which were awarded statutory powers to control the liquor trade, regulate traffic and impose sanitation measures. Komiti Ma…
Date: 1900 Period: 1900-1937 -
Prohibition
Once women have the right to vote, from 1893, elections are commonly accompanied by referenda on alcohol prohibition. Although Māori were not allowed to vote in National Licensing Referenda until 1949, prohibition was something that Māori felt very strongl…
Date: 1900 Period: 1900-1937 -
Public Health Act 1900
The first Māori Doctor, Maui Pomare, was recruited to the new Department of Public Health ‘Māori Health’ section as ‘Health Commissioner for the Natives’ in 1901. Te Rangi Hīroa (Peter Buck) engaged as Pomare’s assistant in 1905.[i]
Date: 1900 Period: 1900-1937 -
Residential care for young offenders
Residential care was regarded as the best option for young offenders and for young people considered to be out of control. Alternative forms of care, such as foster care with non-family members, were reserved for the least difficult children committed to t…
Date: 1900 Period: 1900-1937 -
The Māori Lands Administration Act
The Māori Lands Administration Act granted Māori some local autonomy and some legal power over their land. However, special conditions restricted these gains.[i]
Date: 1900 Period: 1900-1937 -
Native Land Claims and Adjustment and Amendment Act
This Act made it necessary to formally ‘register whangai placements in the Native Land Court to qualify the child to succeed to lands of their whangai parents’.[i] The Act also legalised the adoption of children outside of the kin-based network.
Date: 1901 Period: 1900-1937 -
Old Age Pension policy for Māori
Old-age Pensions Office became an independent department.[i] In 1904 the decision by New Plymouth magistrate Thomas Hutchinson to pay a reduced rate of pension, £12 rather than £18, to a Māori pensioner set a precedent for an unofficial policy that lasted …
Date: 1904 Period: 1900-1937
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)