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 1 - 10 of 81 events.
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National Māori Congress established
An iwi-wide response to changes within te ao Māori and Māori–Crown relations.[i]
Date: 1990 Period: 1990-current -
Placement targets for the long-term unemployed
The New Zealand Employment Service was required to place 40,000 job seekers registered for 26 weeks or more, within its overall target of 90,000 placements. The Service was also required to improve its placement results for women, Māori, Pacific Islanders …
Date: 1990 Period: 1990-current -
Fourth National Government welfare reforms
The National Government cut welfare benefits and removed the universal family benefit entirely with Ruth Richardson’s ‘mother of all budgets’.[i] Jenny Shipley criticised welfare system dependency and benefits as a poverty trap and pushed a modest ‘safety …
Date: 1991 Period: 1990-current -
Ka Awatea report
Winston Peters, National MP, releases Ka Awatea which recommended the abolition of the Iwi Transition Agency and Manatū Māori, replacing them with a new Ministry of Māori Development, Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK).[i] This new agency was to have a strong regional p…
Date: 1991 Period: 1990-current -
NZ Census of Population and Dwellings includes ‘Iwi’
The first national census since 1901 to include iwi.[i]
Date: 1991 Period: 1990-current -
Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust
The Trust moved from providing services based on ‘goodwill and voluntary labour of [the] Māori community’ to funded services under the name Te Whānau o Waipareira Social Services. This development arose from a two-year contract with DSW to provide a homebu…
Date: 1991 Period: 1990-current -
DSW split into three business units
Government welfare reforms separated the Department of Social Welfare into three standalone units. The New Zealand Community Funding Agency was established as one of the key ‘operating businesses’ of the Department of Social Welfare and helped ensure that…
Date: 1992 Period: 1990-current -
Establishment of Te Puni Kōkiri
Te Puni Kōkiri, Ministry of Māori Development, replaced Manatū Māori as well as the Iwi Transition Agency. Both agencies had replaced the Department of Māori Affairs. Part of the role of the new Ministry was to monitor other government departments for deli…
Date: 1992 Period: 1990-current -
Additional social welfare reforms
Release of DSW’s Briefing to the Incoming Minister, published in 1993, raised concerns about increasing number of sole parents, and long-term unemployment following the passage of Employment Contracts Act. The fourth National Government's Prime Ministerial…
Date: 1993 Period: 1990-current -
From Welfare to Well-Being
Department of Social Welfare, From Welfare to Well-Being (Wellington: Department of Social Welfare, 1994) introduced the idea of reciprocal obligations.[i] Introduction of case managers to address barriers individuals face returning to work. Sole Parent …
Date: 1994 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)