NZ Flashcards
(11 cards)
1936 - Arbitration Court Decision
Arbitration Court set the basic wage for men at a level “sufficient to maintain an average family, a man and his wife and three children”
1938 - Social Security Act
Social Security Act provided for universal retirement at the age of 65, introduced an unemployment benefit for the first time, and established a system of free healthcare (not done in Britain until 1945)
1939-1945 - WW2 and NZ
205,000 served (1/8 of population) – 11,671 killed
The 28th (Māori) Battalion
a unit composed entirely of Māori volunteers, this battalion fought bravely in several key campaigns, including in Greece, North Africa, and Italy, they were national heroes
1948 - Separate Citizenship
NZ established its own separate citizenship through the British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act
for many, British ethnicity remained a key part of their identity, and the distinction between being “British” and “New Zealander” was not heavily emphasized
1950s and 1960s - New Zealand’s “Golden Age”
full employment for men, high wages, generous public services (healthcare, education, and social security → these services were funded by a strong economy and were available to all citizens, contributing to a high standard of living), 70% owned their own homes
1945–1976 - Urbanization and Integration of Māori
in 1945, about 74% of the Māori population lived in rural areas. By 1976, this had dramatically shifted, with 77% of Māori living in urban areas → this movement from rural to urban settings was a radical change, as Māori had traditionally lived in close-knit, rural communities, often on ancestral land
a radical change for both Māori and Pakeha, who had until then lived largely separate lives.
Government softened stance, replacing “assimilation” with “integration”
1961 - Hunn Report
Māori should be encouraged to adopt a “modern way of life”, but the aim should be to “combine (not fuse) the Māori and Pakeha elements to form one nation wherein Māori culture remains distinct”
1965 - New Zealand-Australia Free Trade Agreement
as a precaution against the potential loss of the British market (ECC), New Zealand began to strengthen its economic ties with Australia
this agreement aimed to facilitate easier trade between the two nations, providing New Zealand with an alternative market to Britain
1980s - “Rogernomics” in New Zealand
“Rogernomics” refers to the series of economic reforms implemented in NZ during the 1980s, named after Roger Douglas, the Minister of Finance at the time
these reforms were part of a broader shift towards neoliberalism, an economic philosophy that emphasizes free markets, deregulation, and a reduction in government intervention
key aspects:
- deregulation, privatisation, cuts to welfare
- compulsory arbitration of industrial disputes was phased out
- top rate of income tax was reduced from 66% to 33%
- agricultural subsidies were largely abolished
