Story: Family welfare

Young mothers and benefits

Young mothers and benefits

Seventeen-year-old sole parent Rhonda Leone was able to care for her baby, Sean, with financial support from the domestic purposes benefit (DPB). However, in 1991 the government decided that sole parents had to be 18 years old before they could get the DPB. While Rhonda continued to receive this benefit, other young single mothers like her were no longer eligible. Rhonda said that life would not be worth living if she had to give up her baby because she could not get the DPB.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1991/2245/27
Photograph by Phil Reid

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.

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How to cite this page:

Maureen Baker and Rosemary Du Plessis, 'Family welfare - Family policy, 1980–1999', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/26093/young-mothers-and-benefits (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Maureen Baker and Rosemary Du Plessis, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 29 Jun 2018