Welfare History

Abstract

The Department of Social Welfare commissioned A Civilised Community to trace a century's development of social security policy-the state's activity in providing a basic income or financial assistance to ordinary individuals. Today social security, or 'welfare', is a provocative issue, but it has always been significant in our history, for social security policy and the way in which it is reflected in legislation have been pointers to the nature of New Zealand society. Handing over cash is a tangible acknowledgment of a citizen's rights, and the social security system (and the degree of dignity it allows), have often marked the boundaries of our vision; it h as symbolised our prejudices and fears, and who's in and who's out of favour in the wider community of the nation.