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 21 - 30 of 81 events.
-
Super 2000 Task Force appointed
The Superannuation 2000 Task Force was charged with finding a sustainable superannuation solution for New Zealand. In 1999, it commissioned a comprehensive survey of the living standards of older people. Three separate surveys were conducted to meet the ob…
Date: 1998 Period: 1990-current -
Te Whānau o Waipareira report released
Report released by the Waitangi Tribunal. The Waipareira Trust claimed it had been discriminated against by the Community Funding Agency, a unit of the Department of Social Welfare, in funding and policy because it was not an iwi organisation. The Tribuna…
Date: 1998 Period: 1990-current -
Towards a Code of Social and Family Responsibility
The proposed code outlined National/New Zealand First conservative values perspectives. Intended to garner consensus on family responsibilities, although targeted at beneficiaries.[i] Ultimately abandoned.
Date: 1998 Period: 1990-current -
Work and Income NZ established
Income Support Service and Employment Services merged to become Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ).[i]
Date: 1998 Period: 1990-current -
Department of Child, Youth and Family Services established
Children, Young Persons and their Families Agency was established through the merger of the New Zealand Children and Young Persons Service and the New Zealand Community Funding Agency. Later in the year, it became the stand-alone Department of Child, Youth…
Date: 1999 Period: 1990-current -
Fifth Labour Government
The fifth Labour Government policy of Closing the Gaps/Reducing Inequalities.[i] had goals of decreasing poverty, improving social inclusion, planning and individual development rather than punitive approaches. Job Seeker agreements between case managers …
Date: 1999 Period: 1990-current -
Māori socio-economic update
MSD noted a progressively worse overrepresentation of Māori children and young people in the system. ‘In 2001, Māori made up 45 percent of the total client group. Fifty-five percent of children in care and 48 percent of those in youth justice were Māori.' …
Date: 2000 Period: 1990-current -
Lake Alice apology
Government apology and compensation to approximately 180 former patients of the Lake Alice Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (1972–1978) after a private inquiry into mistreatment in the Unit.[i]
Date: 2001 Period: 1990-current -
Ministry of Social Development established
Amalgamation of the Ministry of Social Policy and the Department of Work and Income.[i]
Date: 2001 Period: 1990-current -
Nga Pae o Te Maramatanga established
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) is New Zealand's Māori Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) funded by the Tertiary Education Commission and hosted by The University of Auckland. The centre's research is driven by its vision of creating the foundations for f…
Date: 2002 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)