Introduction

In order to provide the basis for the discussion and analysis that is to follow, Chapter Two sets out a brief description of the development and changes in social security in New Zealand. It is descriptive rather than analytical. The focus is on summarising and describing the structural and organisational changes that have taken place and that are proposed as at the beginning of 2007. It begins by outlining the social security dimensions in the early period of colonial settlement and proceeds from there to identify the focus and approach of the 1897 Workers Compensation Act and the 1898 Old Age Pensions Act before going on to trace the key elements of provision throughout the 20th century, highlighting both the legislative and political elements. The review concludes with a description of both the current structure and framework and the planned changes to income support at the time of writing. The chapter identifies the central themes and issues that form the basis of the discussion in the later chapters of the book, themes and issues that are taken up in much more detail in those chapters. However, without the brief description and overview undertaken here, the subsequent analysis would be unclear and confusing. More importantly, discussion and examination of the research and literature on poverty, the focus of the next three chapters, and of the shaping of the social security chapters, the focus of Part Two, could not be undertaken without considerable confusion and repetition.

Early colonial beginnings

The formal establishment of the New Zealand state can be linked to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February, 1840. This Treaty, signed by the Queen's then representative, Governor Hobson, and the Chiefs of many Maori tribes, provided the basis of colonial settlement of Aotearoa New Zealand. While its application and interpretation remain an issue of continuing legal and political debate, the Treaty recognises Maori as the indigenous people of Aotearoa, with certain rights (reflected particularly, but not exclusively, in Articles Two and Three of the English version of the Treaty) and provides the legal basis for the application of English law and the subsequent settlement of other peoples in New Zealand.