Shows Property Investor Bob Jones with a shotgun on top of Christchurch cathedral on an island surrounded by ducks. The lake is labelled 'Lake Bob Parker'. Context: Bob Jones suggested the Christchurch CBD be replaced with a lake (The Listener 12-18 May 2012). Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
Three men chat in a pub. One of them reads a newspaper article about the Mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, who commented that he was scared of earthquakes when in Wellington. All three drinkers would rather be in Wellington than trapped beside Bob Parker at a dinner table. Context: Christchurch's Mayor has told the Emergency Management Conference he's scared to be in Wellington. He gave graphic descriptions of the Christchurch earthquakes, getting people to bang on the tables for 45 seconds so they could see what it felt like. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Santa Claus drives his sleigh at great speed towards Christchurch shouting 'Hang on Christchurch we're on our way!' Context: concern about continuing trials and tribulations of Christchurch with continuing earthquakes and aftershocks. Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
Santa Claus who represents the 'CCC' (Christchurch City Council) carries an enormous sack that represents 'Marryatt's pay rise' on his back. The hopes of a Christchurch earthquake victim who is trying to deal with a crack in his lawn are dashed when Santa says 'Sorry nuthin' for you... theres's no room left in the sack!' Context: Tony Marryatt is the Christchurch City Council's chief executive who has recently been given a controversial $68,000 pay rise for his performance during a year (because of the earthquakes) in which he has 'never worked so hard in my life'. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Aspects of Christchurch life after the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, modelled on acts performed at the Buskers' Festival being held in Christchurch. Include `Silt walking'through liquefaction; 'Orange zone', representing the paralysis of homeowners whose properties were classified as 'orange', or of undecided status; 'Jugglers "Marryatt" and "Red Zone"': the Christchurch CEO, Tony Marryatt, juggles with money, his large pay rise, while the red-zoned householder juggles with unattractive options; 'The boy [CBD] with red tape all over him', referring to the cordon which was strangling the Central Business District; the columnist Joe Bennett with his dog, refusing to move from his house in Lyttelton, a cause celebre of resistance to the earthquake authorities in those days. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows the word 'Christchurch' with 'church' crossed out and replaced with 'mess'. A second version has the word 'scary' added. A third version has the word 'church' replaced by 'mas'. A fourth version has the words 'early' and 'presence' included and 'church' is replaced by 'mess'. Context: concern about continuing trials and tribulations of Christchurch with unremitting earthquakes and aftershocks. Four versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 4 digital cartoon(s).
Two men chat on a beach about what the new year will bring. Out at sea is the container ship 'Rena' in two halves and the rain pours down. Context: 2011 was a year of disasters in New Zealand with new earthquakes in Christchurch and the 'Rena' running aground on the Astrolabe Reef off the Tauranga coast. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows a scene of rubble in central Christchurch, a workman appears to have fallen down a deep hole whilst another workman says to a man in a suit 'Your land's safe to re-build on...Geo-Tech are just finishing their in-depth report!'. Context: Refers to sceptism about rebuilding central Christchurch after earthquake damage in 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A louse labelled, Insurance companies, is shown eating something labelled, Huge premium hikes. A definition of the louse as a scavenger and a parasite is given below. Context: Insurance premiums rose New Zealand wide following the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury Earthquakes Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows a Christmas card from the cartoonist to the 'sick, bereaved, and the people of Christchurch, Pike River & Nelson'. Refers to the Canterbury earthquakes that have caused death, misery and uncertainty for many in the region, the Pike River mining tragedy and floods in the Nelson region. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A helicopter from Christchurch flies over New Zealand looking for somewhere to rebuild but everywhere are notices referring to fires, floods, oily beaches, volcanoes and geysers, quakes, landslides. Nowhere seems to be safe. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Chief executive of the Christchurch City Council, Tony Marryatt, has announced he has turned down a controversial $68,000 pay rise. The pay rise is particularly controversial in the face of widespread hardship in Christchurch because of the earthquakes that began in September 2010 and continue still. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Cartoon showing Mayor Bob Parker as 'Spongebob Mayorpants'. Describes the mayor as often getting into deep water, soft and resilient and able to soak up criticism, bouncing back when under pressure. There has been concern and criticism about problems within the city council that effect thr rebuilding of Christchurch. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows two images of cars nose-down in ditches, the first is caused by 'liquifaction' and the second by 'stupifaction'. Context: there was another large aftershock on Boxing Day in Christchurch which resulted in quite a lot of liquefaction. There is always concern over the Christmas holidays about drinking while driving. Other Titles - Liquefaction Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows a mobile CBD (central business district) which is mounted on tractor tracks and will be great for dodging aftershocks. Refers to problems and questions about the rebuilding of the Christchurch CBD after the earthquakes and while aftershocks continue. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A study by the Department of Labour shows 24,000 extra workers will be needed to complete the rebuild of Christchurch. The workers to be housed at Burnham or on a ship in Lyttelton, there are so many advantages to this scheme that the man in the cartoon decides it cannot possibly work. Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows the word 'Christchurch' fractured by earthquake. Text above reads 'The new tear(s)'. A second version has the text in the singular 'The new tear'. Context: In spite of Christchurch's great hopes for a new year without earthquakes, there have been numerous quakes and aftershocks. A wordplay on 'new year' and 'new tear' - that is weeping with fear and dismay. Two versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
Shows a new warning system in Christchurch that consists of the heads of Gerry Brownlee, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister, the Mayor of Christchurch Bob Parker and CERA CEO Roger Sutton. Each bellows his particular mantra. Context: Christchurch's new tsunami warning system will be tested on Sunday 22 July at 11am for one to two minutes. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows a fish wondering about the difference between an insurer delaying earthquake-damage settlements and a scavenging groper. Context: refers to the unacceptable and hugely damaging delays in the provision of earthquake damage settlements by insurance companies after the Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows a man representing Christchurch holding aloft the words 'belief', 'optimism' and 'faith' on a plate. Refers to the blueprint for central Christchurch developed by the Christchurch Central Development Unit, which was unveiled on 30 July 2012. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A man and a woman wearily face one another wondering how they should celebrate two years of frustration. Context: relates to continuing frustration over lack of progress by many people whose houses have been damaged in the Christchurch earthquakes. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A container labelled 'Chch East residents' has landed on the far side of the planet Mars. Others have landed or are descending. People in space suits exit the containers. One of them shakes hands with a green Martian commenting to him that the ground there is solid, it has nice views and "... the locals are a lot less alien than the insurance agents back home". Cartoon published when NASA's Curiosity rover landed on Mars on 5 August 2012. At this time there there was public debate over insurance claims by earthquake survivors in Christchurch's eastern suburbs. Title taken from item. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s). Processing information: Record title, scope and contents and note fields were updated in June 2025 as part of reparative description work. Details available on request.
Shows a aerial representation of Christchurch's eastern suburbs with the course of the Avon River. The new river course spells the word 'munted'. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A group of bleary-eyed people is admiring a work of abstract art that is framed by what appears to be marijuana. The artwork is signed 'Cera'. Refers to ongoing zoning plans for quake-stricken Christchurch. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows Christchurch's Anglican cathedral receiving extensive treatment including blood, ambulances, scaffold and signs reading 'save!' In the background Christchurch's Catholic Cathedral says it wants its share of attention as well. Context: The focus of repairing the Christchurch Anglican cathedral appeared to draw focus and resources from the equally historic and damaged Catholic Cathedral. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Under the caption, young people carrying their baggage flutter into the air, away from Canterbury and toward 'Oz'. In September GNS Earth Sciences reported that after the earthquakes, the Greendale and associated faults were still moving as they settled into a new configuration. At the same time the young were leaving Canterbury (and New Zealand) for a better future in Australia. The population of New Zealand was moving into a new configuration. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A worried Hekia Parata, Minister of Education, tells John Key, the Prime Minister, that schools in Canterbury are resisting being merged. John Key replies that the government will go through a 'consultation process' and then 'do what we like'. However the schools are claiming marae status and thus protection under the Treaty of Waitangi. The 'Hui report' which the Prime Minister is holding confirms this fear. The Ministry of Education, given the excuse of the Canterbury earthquakes, announced that many schools there will be merged or closed. Threatened schools, particularly the two Maori language schools, lodged complaints with the Waitangi Tribunal. 'Hui reports' refers to the claims and resulting hui over the water rights of the proposed partial privatisation of state assets. Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
On the second anniversary of the 2010 earthquake Canterbury weeps. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Under the caption 'Best value for money?' is a football stadium displaying a red cross. From within a voice proclaims the advantages of having a combined covered stadium, hospital and blood bank. Under CERA, the Christchurch Central Development Unit had planned for a covered sports stadium, with attached facilities and shops as one of the key sites in the Christchurch rebuild after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. The 'blood bin' refers to the recent practice in rugby of sending off players with flesh wounds. There were also plans for a new hospital. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows huge mosquitoes attacking a man. Context: It could be that there is a larger population of mosquitoes in Christchurch at the moment because of stagnant areas left by the earthquakes. And it could be that a new mosquito species may be causing Cantabrians to suffer bad reactions to bites. The species is known as the striped mosquito, or Aedes notscriptus. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).