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 51 - 60 of 270 events.
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Te Hokowhitu a Tū return home from war
Te Hokowhitu a Tū (the New Zealand (Māori) Pioneer Battalion) returned home after the 1919 ceasefire.
Date: 1919 Period: 1900-1937 -
Te Rangihīroa (Peter Buck) appointed
Dr Peter Buck was appointed Director of Māori Hygiene. Māori councils were transferred to the Health Department in 1919 but at this point most only existed on paper.[i]
Date: 1919 Period: 1900-1937 -
Reorganisation of the health system
Led to the formation of divisions for Dental Hygiene, School Hygiene, and Child Welfare, the last under the leadership of Truby King.[i]
Date: 1920 Period: 1900-1937 -
The Prevention of Crime (Borstal Institutions Establishment) Act
Offenders aged 15-21 could be detained in borstals for one to five years for ‘reform’, which included occupational training.[i]
Date: 1924 Period: 1900-1937 -
Child Welfare Act
The Child Welfare Act 1925 expunged the term ‘industrial school’ from the Education Department vocabulary.[i] The legislation caught up with, rather than set, a new welfare policy for children.[ii] It created a separate system of juvenile justice through c…
Date: 1925 Period: 1900-1937 -
Child Welfare Branch set up
Based in the Department of Education, it had responsibility for the welfare of all children (whether in institutional care or in the care of family). The Superintendent of Child Welfare was responsible to both the Minister of Education and the Minister in …
Date: 1926 Period: 1900-1937 -
Māori and the Child Welfare Court
In the late 1930s Māori tamariki/rangatahi increasingly appeared in children’s courts and from 1926-1948 Māori made up 30-40% of all cases of children magistrates placed under supervision each year.[i]
Date: 1926 Period: 1900-1937 -
Pensions Act
First attempt to systematise New Zealand’s pension system. A tight rein placed on Māori eligibility by local magistrate’s assessments. The Commissioner became responsible for agreeing to all renewals of Māori pensions, and adopted the practice of lowering …
Date: 1926 Period: 1900-1937 -
Sim Commission
The Sim Commission inquired into the more than three million acres of Māori land confiscated throughout Taranaki, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty under the 1863 New Zealand Settlements Act. Its subsequent report contained no discussion of justifications for …
Date: 1926 Period: 1900-1937 -
The Child Welfare Amendment Act
Raised the age limit for children’s courts from 16 to 17 which caused a sudden increase in case numbers.[i] It also provided for the state registration and inspection of orphanages.[ii]
Date: 1927 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)