Paetumokai : an inquiry into the social and family life of a rural town in New Zealand

This survey of Paetumokai, however, was not intended to be a complete social survey of a small town, but rather a study of all those organisations which in one way or another have a bearing upon family life. In order to obtain a clear picture of this a questionnaire was prepared and seventy families were interviewed. Before proceeding to a discussion of the methods and techniques I adopted for this survey I should like to present a brief sketch of the changes in general that have occurred in family life. The normal minimum family into which a child is born is one consisting of two parents in the special environment of a home. This environment changes and establishes a different background for each successive child. In all times of which we have legendary or historical knowledge the family has existed and has been responsible for the provision of the basic needs of its offspring - food, clothing, shelter and education. As time went on and the needs of mankind increased, the family, as a group, became involved in more and more duties and responsibilities until it became a complex organisation in which the participants filled many varied roles. Thus, in addition to providing the staple needs already mentioned, the family has provided work, education and apprenticeship, companionship, religion and social life. Such then was the pattern of the emerging family of historical times.