The Closure of the Templeton Centre: a Study of the Social and Economic Discourses That Led to the Closure of a State Institution

In the 1990s the New Zealand Government began the process of the closure of the Templeton Centre, which provided care for people with intellectual and multiple disabilities. This book investigates the social and economic discourse that led to the closure of that state institution. The author argues that Western Governments' neo-liberal economic agenda of reducing state structures, services and social spending was the driving force in the closure of state institutions. Also, political actors usage of the social discourses of deinstitutionalisation and normalisation are shown to have supported the shift to community care for the disabled. In addition, the author explores parental and community reaction to the closure of the state institution, where scepticism of the real reasons for the decision to close the Templeton Centre are debated in the media and letters to the editor in newspapers by these interested parties. Finally, the author summarises the effect of desinstitutionalistion on some of the ex-Tempelton residents now living in the community.