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 91 - 100 of 270 events.
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Labour Government defeated by National
First Māori woman MP, Iriaka Ratana (until 1969), elected.[i] Throughout her 20-year political career Iriaka focused much on the welfare needs of Māori.[ii] Māori Electoral Roll established for the Māori seats.[iii]
Date: 1949 Period: 1938-1971 -
Māori Welfare Division
Comprised 63 tribal executives and 381 committees under the 1945 Act, headed by Rangi Royal.
Date: 1949 Period: 1938-1971 -
Establishment of Māori Boys and Māori Girls’ trade training hostels
From the 1930s, as Māori began moving to urban centres, concerns arose among iwi Māori, mission organisations and the state about the safe accommodation of young Māori girls and boys in the country’s cities. By the 1950s, trade training institutions such a…
Date: 1950 Period: 1938-1971 -
Māori Purposes Act 1950
This iteration of the Māori Purposes Act excluded Māori customary marriage from legal benefit qualifications,[i] although family benefits were paid for all children whether legitimate or not.
Date: 1950 Period: 1938-1971 -
Establishment of the Māori Women’s Welfare League (MWWL)
The League undertook myriad community-based voluntary welfare activities. In its first few years it advocated for te reo Māori in schools, culturally responsive hospital services and preserving Māori arts. The League brought Māori women together to address…
Date: 1951 Period: 1938-1971 -
MWWL survey of Auckland housing for Māori
Survey provides evidence of Māori need for housing.[i]
Date: 1952 Period: 1938-1971 -
Enquiry into Māori offending
Growth of Māori delinquency encouraged the Justice Department to undertake a special inquiry in 1953/4 which examined all Māori offending.[i]
Date: 1953 Period: 1938-1971 -
Child Welfare Amendment Act (No.2)
Targeted the allegedly central role of girls and young women in fostering illicit relationships by creating the new category of ‘delinquency’ for all adolescents who committed indecent acts, or allowed them to be performed on them.[i]
Date: 1954 Period: 1938-1971 -
The Mazengarb Report
The Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents criticised films, comics and declining standards of family and religious life. Later described as leading to a ‘moral panic’.[i]
Date: 1954 Period: 1938-1971 -
Adoption Act
This Act and its 1962 Amendment upheld the principle of secrecy via ‘closed adoption’. Legislation inferred the transparency inherent to ‘whangai practices [was] somehow detrimental to the child and their whangai parents.’[i]
Date: 1955 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)