Dr H Gifford, Dr A Boulton, Dr S Triggs, Prof C Cunningham Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga International Indigenous Development Conference Auckland, 27-30 June 2012 Tipping the balance: the impact of the Working for Families (WFF) policy on Māori whānau
Dec 16, 2015
Dr H Gifford, Dr A Boulton, Dr S Triggs, Prof C CunninghamNgā Pae o te Māramatanga
International Indigenous Development Conference Auckland, 27-30 June 2012
Tipping the balance: the impact of the Working
for Families (WFF) policy on Māori whānau
Background
• Three year study with an overarching aim to identify whether Working for Families (WFF) has contributed towards whānau ora
• Funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) and the Foundation for Research Science and Technology (FoRST)
• Collaboration between an iwi-based research centre & a university
The Team
• From WRMHD Dr Heather Gifford (Lead) & Dr Amohia Boulton
• From the Research Centre for Māori Health and Development, Massey University Dr Sue Triggs & Prof Chris Cunningham
Additional Aims
• To undertake new analysis using an existing and on-going Māori dataset• Best Outcomes for Māori: Te Hoe Nuku Roa
(THNR)• THNR is a stratified, random, longitudinal survey
of Māori households, initiated in a series of waves beginning in 1994
• Conduct high-quality research to inform policy development for Māori
Background to the Policy
• Introduced in 2004, by a Labour government
• Attempted to address a number of social policy goals (Johnson 2005)• reduce child poverty
• improve the incomes of working families
• strengthen work incentives for unemployed parents
• make it easier for families to access financial assistance
Johnson, N. (2005). ‘Working for Families’ in New Zealand: Some Early Lessons. http://www.fulbright.org.nz/voices/axford/johnson.html. Accessed 26 August 2008
Components of WFF
THNR Analysis - 3 Phases
• Identification of households in the THNR dataset with characteristics qualifying them to receive WFF
• Descriptive quantitative analysis of the longitudinal dataset of Māori households
• Collection of new qualitative data on whānau wellbeing
Methodology• THNR survey collected data on broad range of
issues including Economic Living Standards Indicator (ELSISF)
• The first part of the research examined changes in living standards of whānau using data from households interviewed in Wave 4 (2004-2007)
• The second part of the research examined changes in the living circumstances of households between Wave 4 and Wave 5 of THNR and looked at the effect of these changes on living standards
Sample Whanau type Wave 4 sample
Wave 5 sample
Before
WFFAfter WFF
Total Total
WFF-eligible 160 118 278 131
Not eligible 170 131 301 136
Total 330 249 579 267
Results• WFF- eligible whānau demonstrated the
need for financial support• prior to the policy’s existence, the living
standards of WFF-eligible whānau were markedly and significantly lower than ineligible Māori households
• beneficiary families with dependant children were the worst-off
followed by other beneficiary households (excl SAs) and low-income working families with dependant children
Results• WFF eligible whānau experienced an
improvement in income adequacy• a decline in the proportion of whānau whose
income was ‘not enough’ to meet their everyday needs
• an equivalent increase in the ‘just enough’ category
• housing satisfaction also improved• a higher proportion of families having
to economise on the purchase of fruit and vegetables in 2011 compared to 2004
Results• Whānau dynamics play an important part in
income adequacy• changes in household circumstances such as
family formation and splitting• fluctuation in labour force status between full-time
and part-time work and between work, parenting, study and looking for work • role of whānau in caring for
whānau members and/or giving money to help whānau members
Results• The impact of WFF was significant but
modest, and possibly fragile• WFF payments do make a contribution towards
improving income adequacy• however gains may be fragile, as
the economic situation of low -income families remains one of considerable hardship
• economising on basic necessities such as fruit and vegetables, and visits to the doctor, evident
Results• Evident tensions between WFF policy
objectives • conceptualised as a tool to target those
experiencing social disadvantage with a view to increasing overall living standards and reducing poverty in the community
• however a divergence between the ‘making work pay’ and the ‘income adequacy’ aims of the WFF policy is apparent, with significant impact on Māori
Conclusions
• WFF targeted whānau who were financially limited but excluded the most economically disadvantaged i.e. beneficiaries, and therefore the children of beneficiaries
• A discernible but “modest” improvement in income adequacy for those in receipt of WFF during the period 2004-2011
Conclusions
• A research setting of considerable complexity• Policy: inherently complex, with inter-related
components, which changed during the period of examination
• Context: a time of social and economic change, including recession and changing government
• Whānau: dynamic entities, moving in and out of employment, changing household types
Acknowledgements
• The research participants
• Research Centre for Māori Health and Development
• Health Research Council of New Zealand
• Foundation for Research Science and Technology
For further informationDr Heather Gifford
Whakauae Research for Māori Health and Development
Publications available on
www.whakauae.co.nz