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

heather@whakauae.co.nz

Publications available on

www.whakauae.co.nz