Useful Books and Articles on Neoliberal Welfare Reform in New Zealand from 1984 to 2008

You can access my article entitled: 'The Fifth (Key) National Government’s Neoliberal Policy Agenda: Description, Analysis and Critical Evaluation' (in New Zealand Sociology, Volume 26, Issue 1, 2011) at:  
http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/view/action/ieViewer.do?dps_pid=IE6395643&dps_custom_att_1=ilsdb&dps_dvs=1349916963118~132&dps_pid=IE6395643&change_lng=en

Abstract: This article describes the background, context and the key features of the Fifth National Government’s neoliberal policy agenda. The neoliberal justification of this agenda is considered and subject to critical scrutiny. The weight of evidence suggests that the Government’s neoliberal policy agenda will mainly benefit the wealthiest 20% of New Zealanders, while disadvantaging low- and middle-income earners. It concludes that neither the 1999 nor the 2008 elections constitute major turning points in New Zealand’s political history because neither government has removed any of the central features of the neoliberal policy regime.  

Sources focusing on neoliberal welfare reform from 1984 to 2008:

B. Roper, Prosperity for All? Ch.9, pp.195-199 and Section 9.3, pp.212-218.

J. Boston, “New Zealand’s Welfare State in Transition” in J. Boston et al. (eds), Redesigning the Welfare State in New Zealand: Problems, Policies, Prospects, Oxford University Press, Auckland, 1999, ch.1.

C. Cheyne et al., Social Policy in Aotearoa/New Zealand, ch. 8 “From Social Security to Social Assistance”.

J. Kelsey, The New Zealand Experiment, ch. 11.

M. McClure, A Civilised Community: A History of Social Security in New Zealand, 1898-1998, Auckland University Press, Auckland, 1998, pp.232-56.

M. O’Brien, Poverty, Policy and the State: Social Security Reform in New Zealand, Policy Press, Bristol, 2008, ch.8.

C. Rudd, “The Welfare State” in Rudd and Roper (eds.), The Political Economy of New Zealand, Oxford University Press, Auckland, 1997, ch.13.

 D. Bedggood, (1996), ‘From the Cradle to the Grave? The New Zealand Welfare State’, New Zealand Sociology, vol.11, no.2, pp.143-182 

J. Bedggood, “Domestic Purpose Beneficiaries and the Community Wage: Her Brilliant Career” in New Zealand Sociology, vol.15, no.1, 2000, pp.75-99.

J. Boston and S. St John, “Targeting versus Universality: Social Assistance for All or Just for the Poor?” in J. Boston et al. (eds), Redesigning the Welfare State in New Zealand: Problems, Policies, Prospects, Oxford University Press, Auckland, 1999, ch.6. 

R. Stephens, “The Changing Social Security System” N. Lunt, O’Brien, M. and Stephen, R. (eds) New Welfare, New Zealand, Victoria, Thomson, 2008, ch.4.  

M. Baker, “Low-income Mothers, Employment and Welfare Restructuring” in N. Lunt, O’Brien, M. and Stephen, R. (eds) New Welfare, New Zealand, Victoria, Thomson, 2008, ch.8.

S. St. John, “Working for Families: Work, Families and Poverty”, in N. Lunt, O’Brien, M. and Stephen, R. (eds) New Welfare, New Zealand, Victoria, Thomson, 2008, ch.9.