Skip to main content

Story: Adoption

Protest about the Domestic Purposes Benefit, 1977

Image
Protest about the Domestic Purposes Benefit, 1977

From the 1960s people campaigned for state assistance for single parents, who were mainly women. The Domestic Purposes Benefit (DPB) for sole parents was introduced in 1973. This made raising a child or children single-handed easier, but it did not lead to a life of luxury or leisure. These women are protesting about the benefit amount, and the pressure placed on sole parents to give their children up for adoption.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: 1/4-028276; F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Anne Else, Adoption – Adoption and single mothers – 1960s and 1970s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/26054/protest-about-the-domestic-purposes-benefit-1977 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Anne Else, published 28 February 2011.