Destitute Persons Ordinance

Promoted the start of the family responsibility themes in New Zealand social policy.[i] Was put in place due to concern about ‘dangerous lunatics’ and made families financially responsible for their own members.[ii] Became New Zealand’s first income support measure.[iii]


Footnotes

  1. [i] go to main content Margaret Tennant, Past Judgement: Social Policy in New Zealand History, co-edited with Bronwyn Dalley, 2004, p. 10.
  2. [ii] go to main content Tennant, 2004, p. 41.; Margaret McClure, A Civilised Community: A History of Social Security in New Zealand 1898–1998, Auckland, 1998, p. 12.
  3. [iii] go to main content Margaret Tennant, The Fabric of Welfare: Voluntary Organisations, Government, and Welfare in New Zealand, 1840–2005, 2007, p. 28.