Special needs versus the ‘level playing-field’: Recent developments in housing policy for indigenous people in New Zealand
Abstract In this paper we outline the development of the Papakainga Housing Scheme, which has been predominantly applied in rural regions of the North Island of New Zealand. The objective of this policy which was introduced in 1985 has been to remove legal impediments that have prevented Maori people building dwellings on collectively owned ancestral land. By 1992, a total of 901 loans had been approved, but the future of the programme is uncertain. We consider that the outcomes of this housing policy are, at best, ambiguous. The policy fits well with Maori concepts of land and home, and facilitates a return to tribal areas. However, designing special programmes for particular groups is as odds with current state policies that promote the ‘level playing-field’. In addition, the scheme will not achieve its full potential without the promotion of employment and other social services to create sustainable rural communities.
The paper details the findings of a study which focused on the analysis of the cultural representation ::: of disability in school textbooks in Iran and England. The paper argues that whilst inclusive education ::: could facilitate the incorporating of disabled pupils into mainstream schools, there needs to be deeper ::: examination as to how this transition should take place for children aged 3-13. The paper suggests that ::: in such examinations school textbooks might be of significance in familiarizing non-disabled pupils, ::: teachers and authorities with the issues related to disability and disabled pupils.