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 31 - 40 of 81 events.
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Towards a Māori Statistics Framework released
Statistics NZ released the discussion document Towards a Māori Statistics Framework. Led by Māori Policy Manager and Statistician Whetumarama Wereta and informed by Statistics NZ’s Māori Reference Group, the paper called for Māori statistics in the offici…
Date: 2002 Period: 1990-current -
Whānau Ora
Whānau Ora becomes part of Ministry of Health’s strategy for Māori health.[i]
Date: 2002 Period: 1990-current -
Families Commission established
The focus of the Commission was as an advocate for NZ families, with the Act also providing for identifying factors that support resilience and strength of families. Importantly, the term ‘family’ is broadly defined to include ‘whānau’. The Commission had …
Date: 2003 Period: 1990-current -
Housing Innovation Fund established
The Housing Innovation Fund, renamed The Social Housing fund from 1 July 2011, was established to increase the availability of rental housing and home ownership opportunities for low-income households and people with special needs. Funding was also availab…
Date: 2003 Period: 1990-current -
National Urban Māori Authority (NUMA) founded
NUMA represents seven affiliated urban Māori authorities in five urban centres across New Zealand. It is responsible for the delivery of approximately 300 whānau and community-based services across the areas of education, health, housing, justice, and soci…
Date: 2003 Period: 1990-current -
Social Workers required to be registered
In 2003 the Social Workers Registration Act was passed to prevent any unregistered person from claiming to be a social worker.[i]
Date: 2003 Period: 1990-current -
Hui Taumata
A national hui focused on accelerating Māori economic development, held at Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington from 1-3 March 2005. The vision for Hui Taumata 2005 was to expand Māori economic pathways.[i]
Date: 2005 Period: 1990-current -
Iwi Chairs Forum convened
The Iwi Chairs Forum was convened at a hui at Takahanga Marae in Kaikōura. The forum is made up of the chairs of iwi governance entities who hold regular meetings to discuss matters of national interest to iwi and Māori more broadly and represents, accordi…
Date: 2005 Period: 1990-current -
Child, Youth & Family integrated into MSD
The Child, Youth & Family business unit of the Department of Social Welfare was fully integrated into the Ministry of Social Development.[i]
Date: 2006 Period: 1990-current -
Claims Resolution Team
Set up within the Ministry of Social Development to respond to claims of historic abuse or neglect against Child, Youth and Family or its predecessor entities.[i]
Date: 2006 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)