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 71 - 80 of 81 events.
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Treasury introduces first Wellbeing Budget
This Budget encouraged agencies to develop wellbeing measures for reporting, and looked beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to ‘improving the wellbeing of our people, protecting the environment and strengthening of our communities.’[i]
Date: 2019 Period: 1990-current -
Covid lockdowns
The first Covid lockdown was March to May 2020. The Alert system was introduced and New Zealand entered various Alert phases throughout 2020 to December 2021, when the Covid Protection Framework was introduced. Early on, many Māori communities established …
Date: 2020 Period: 1990-current -
COVID pandemic measures
The first COVID lockdown was March to May 2020. The Alert Levels system was introduced and NZ entered various phases throughout 2020 to December 2021, when the COVID Protection Framework was introduced. Early on, many Māori communities established their ow…
Date: 2020 Period: 1990-current -
Homelessness Action Plan released
In February 2020, the government released the Aotearoa/New Zealand Homelessness Action Plan. It set out an overarching framework for communities, Māori, Iwi, providers, and government agencies to work together to prevent and reduce homelessness.[i]
Date: 2020 Period: 1990-current -
Mana Orite Relationship Agreement signed
In response to a Māori call for reform of the justice system, the Mana Orite Agreement was developed as a partnership response to creating ‘a future that benefits both Māori and all New Zealanders by transforming the justice system whereby Māori are no lon…
Date: 2020 Period: 1990-current -
Public Service Act replaces State Sector Act
Key features of the new Act are that it: provides a more flexible set of options for how the public service can organise itself to better respond to specific priorities; allows public servants to move between agencies more easily; clearly establishes the …
Date: 2020 Period: 1990-current -
Tamariki Māori in state care
In August 2020, the-Minister for Children Tracey Martin announced that Cabinet would partially repeal the subsequent child provisions introduced in 2016.[i]
Date: 2020 Period: 1990-current -
Oranga Tamariki Urgent Inquiry report released
Waitangi Tribunal releases report: He Paharakeke He Rito Whakakikinga Wharuarua – Oranga Tamariki Urgent Inquiry report. At the heart of this claim was the issue ‘that policies and practices inconsistent with te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi……
Date: 2021 Period: 1990-current -
Release of Covid-related Māori health data
High Court ruled that the Ministry of Health reconsider its decision not to release Māori data to Te Pou Matakana for their use in their COVID-19 health response These rulings focused on whether the Privacy Act and the Health Information Privacy Code cont…
Date: 2021 Period: 1990-current -
Social workers registration
It became mandatory that all people practising as social workers needed to be registered with the Social Workers Registration Board. [i]
Date: 2021 Period: 1990-current
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)