The Influence Of Treaty Of Waitangi On Social Policy

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In this essay will be talking about the feminist movement and how it had/has influence the social policy, I’ll be talking about how it was formed and why it was formed and how it still plays a part in our lives now. I’ll also be focusing on how the Treaty of Waitangi has influenced the social policy, and how to act and rights and come into place due to the Treaty and how it played a big part in the lives of Maori.

The goals of social policy are to help with the improvement of human welfare and to meet the needs for things such as education, health, housing, and economic security. Social policy is put in place due to the concerns with the way societies all over the nations meets the requirements of human needs, it helps with addressing the issues that the states and organizations that deal with the global challenges of social, demographic and economic changes that occur, such as poverty, migration, and globalization. Social policy help with identifying and finding ways that could help with reducing inequalities for groups such as race, migration status, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, etc. How the Feminist movement has influenced the social policies, since the ’70s the feminist have had a growing influence in the mainstream studies of the social system in countries such as Britain, the USA, Europe, and New Zealand. Women’s liberationists had always seen the woman as an oppressed gender, and due to this, they had demanded significant changes to women rights such as reproductive rights, maternity leave, equal pay, women’s suffrage, sexual harassment and so on. They had begun talking about who cleaned the house, who took care of the children, and how a woman was supposed to dress, how she should be looking after the house and staying home. Matters like these which were never seen as a political issue were suddenly being subjected in debates. Also later down the line, the right to self-defined sexuality was added. This movement had taken off in the ’70s as the Women’s Liberationists groups began attracting many members very fast. I feel that this is an influence due to the fact if the feminist movement had never happened we as a woman today would never have had the freedom that we do today, being able to speak up and standing up for ourselves. The feminist movement has gone through three waves, the first one which was oriented around the stations of the middle or upper-class white women and it involved suffrage and political equality. The second wave of feminists attempted to combat the social and cultural inequalities further, even though the first wave of feminists included mainly the middle white women. The second wave focused more on bringing women of color together from developing nations who were out seeking for unity, and the third wave continued with addressing the social, financial and cultural inequalities which included renewed campaigning for a more significant influence of women in politics and media.

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The Treaty of Waitangi plays a big part when it comes to influencing the social policy, and the Treaty is an agreement which was signed by representatives of the Queen of England and the leaders of most of the Maori tribes when Britain had first claimed New Zealand as a colony in 1840. The Treaty of Waitangi is essential as the treaty governs the relationship between the Maori- the Tangata Whenua (indigenous people) and everyone else, and it ensures that the rights of both Maori and Pakeha (non-Maori) were protected. Because of the Treaty, The Education Act (1989) was put in place this act “required all school boards to consider the views and the concerns of Maori communities which were living in the geographical area.” (The Treaty of Waitangi and Social Policy. Pg 7) And that “school authorities must recognize the importance of the Maori culture and that instructions must be provided in Te Reo and Tikanga for those whose parents request for it.” (The Treaty of Waitangi and Social Policy. Pg 8) While the education act does provide importance and recognition of the Maori needs in the education sector, but it doesn’t state or mentions the Treaty. The Health and Disability Services Act (1993) this act contains two references to the Maori interest; these occur in sections 2 & 8. “Section 2 provides that the good employer provisions of the act shall apply to the employment needs of Maori. Section 8 relayed to the objectives of the crown which, is stated and includes “ the special need of Maori and other particular communities or people.” The Waitangi Tribunal wasn’t established until 1975, and it was found so that the claims of Maori could be heard who believed that they had been affected by the legislation and practices of the crown. The treaty I feel had a considerable influence on the social policy as it helped with developing rights for the Maori community such as rights to health care and reasons to have their language taught in school. Even though the Treaty is never mentioned in any Acts or rights but we know that because of the Treaty these acts were able to be formed. In conclusion both of these influences help in some way to shape and influence the social policy. As both of these influences fulfil the goals of social policy which are trying to help with the concerns which arise in society. Like being able to help with reducing the number of inequalities for groups such as gender, ethnicity, race and etc. In some way both of these influences somehow relate to each other as they both are trying to help a minority group to be able to stand up for themselves and their rights. The feminist movement was helping women to stand up and know what their rights are and The treaty was helping the Maori by helping them with being able to cooperate their culture and beliefs into the police

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