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 81 - 90 of 270 events.
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A ‘needy families’ scheme began
This means tested scheme was a highly targeted form of poverty prevention. There was no publicity for the scheme and it could not be applied for. Families came into it via the Social Security Department, the State Advances Corporation, voluntary welfare gr…
Date: 1941 Period: 1938-1971 -
Autonomous Māori War Effort Organisation established
The Māori War Effort Organisation (MWEO) based on representative tribal leadership was established. Its initial function was to assist with recruiting, but the organisation expanded to the production and supply of food, investigation of Māori housing condi…
Date: 1942 Period: 1938-1971 -
Needy Families scheme
Almost 300 families with 1,730 children had been helped through the scheme. Aid was divided fairly evenly between rental subsidies, grants, and the provision of homes.[i]
Date: 1943 Period: 1938-1971 -
Fareham House opened
Fareham House was opened in August 1944, specifically for Māori girls to separate them from female Pākehā ‘sexual delinquents’ on whom they were thought to have detrimental effects. Kuini Te Tau was appointed to run Fareham House in the late 1950s and emph…
Date: 1944 Period: 1938-1971 -
Māori population
More than 500 Māori were working in essential industries during WW2.[i] The Māori population was 100,870 on 31 December 1944, with 19% of Māori living in urban areas.[ii]
Date: 1945 Period: 1938-1971 -
Māori Social and Economic Advancement Act
The Act[i] incorporated MWEO tribal and executive committees into the Native Affairs Department. Māori welfare officers appointed under the Act set up a network of committees and executives concerned with welfare and marae administration. The Act gave tri…
Date: 1945 Period: 1938-1971 -
The Social Security Amendment Act
Introduced universal family benefit. This brought almost every family into the social security system and receiving benefits became a common experience from rich to poor, multiplying the number of parents receiving the family benefit by five.[i] Like its p…
Date: 1945 Period: 1938-1971 -
Support through Needy Families scheme
More than 900 families and more than 5,000 children were helped through the scheme. Support includes: 296 rental subsidies and grants, another 68 rental subsidies, 342 grants for food, bedding or furniture and families moved into 382 homes.[i]
Date: 1946 Period: 1938-1971 -
Māori replaces Native in official usage
This change was legislated in the Maori Purposes Act 1947.
Date: 1947 Period: 1938-1971 -
Responsibility for the Needy Families scheme
The Child Welfare Branch of the Department of Education was responsible for giving practical assistance to large or needy families and was now solely responsible for the ‘Needy Families’ scheme.[i] Work included supervising children from the Pacific Island…
Date: 1948 Period: 1938-1971
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)