A man reading a newspaper wails and sobs when he discovers that Christchurch will not be hosting any Rugby World Cup games. The newspaper is covered with real disaster news like the Japanese earthquake and potential nuclear disaster, economy problems , and 'aftershock anxiety'. Context - The Christchurch earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011 that have led to the decision that because of the amount of damage to the venue plus infrastructures and accommodation for visitors the Rugby World Cup will not be played in Christchurch. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
In a series of five out of six caricatures Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker shows photographs of himself helping people hurt by the 4th September earthquake and helping Christchurch after the earthquake. In the sixth caricature he disingenuously smirks and says that he has been so busy helping Christchurch that he forgot about the Mayoral election; he then affects a philosophical stance about his chances. Refers to the advantage that the earthquake of 4th September has given the incumbent mayor Bob Parker in the local body elections of 9th October. Black and white and colour versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
In the first frame an excited rugby player runs across a rugby field wearing a shirt with the words 'Rugby Cup venues' printed on it and carrying a ball that represents 'extra games'. In the second frame a huge arm that represents 'extra costs' smashes into the player. Context - Christchurch cannot host the five games allocated to it. Auckland Council has agreed to pick up the $2.9 million tab it will cost to host three additional Rugby World Cup games. The government supports claims that the three bonus games could boost spending in Auckland by at least $28 million. (Stuff 31 March 2011) Colour and black and white versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
A house rocks in the night but the occupants are reassured that it is not 'another quake', only an aftershock, which although it causes the walls to crumble is nothing to worry about. Refers to the Canterbury earthquake of 4th September and the dozens of aftershocks that cause continuing tension and anxiety. 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).
A passerby stops at an advertisement on the lawn outside a house which reads 'Sound commercial property - Christchurch $450,000' and comments to the owner that it 'seems a good buy'. The owner tells him that's 'the yearly rental'. Context - property and rental prices in Christchurch since the earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows Minister for Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee delighted with his plan to rebuild Christchurch and to have it paid for buy the PM's casino. Context: Refers to the Christchurch Central Development Unit that Minister for Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee has put in place. Refers also to the very controversial deal that Prime Minister John Key has made with Auckland's SkyCity to the effect that SkyCity will pay the full construction cost of a new convention centre - estimated at $350 million, in return for being allowed to add more gaming tables and machines, and extending its licence beyond 2021. Colour and black and white versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
In the first seven of eight frames astrologer Ken Moon predicts a 'black day ahead', a 'day of great shaking' and 'terror' and 'children crying' and 'people fleeing' and 'a day in May'. In the last frame people realize that he has seen, not an earthquake, but the budget. Context - After the two big earthquakes in Christchurch on 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011, the so-called Moon Man, Ken Ring, backed away from his prediction that Christchurch would be whacked by a huge earthquake on the 20th of March 2011. His claims terrified Cantabrians and led to people fleeing Christchurch. The 2011 budget will be announced in May and predictions are that it will be a cost-cutting one because of New Zealand's debt, partially caused by the Christchurch earthquakes. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A monster cook who represents 'Mother Nature' stirs several pots as storms swirl outside the window. She has a list of recipes that read 'earthquake entree, tornado twisties, blizzard Bolognese, volcanic mudcake, flood fondue, cyclone souffle'; she says 'Mmmm what shall I cook up next?' Context - the bad weather and the Christchurch earthquake that have afflicted the South Island recently. Published in The Sunday Star Times Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Scientists stand before a model that will predict earthquakes. The model is a large arm attached to wires and switches with a thumb that flicks coins '"Heads" we have big quake at five-o-clock... "tails" we don't'. Context: short term predictions (hours to days) are in general unlikely to be possible, at present. Relates to the Christchurch earthquakes which experts have said could go on for years. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon is entitled 'seismic upheaval'. Prime Minister John Key and Finance Minister Bill English stand near great seismic cracks in the ground and stare sadly at a huge wallet, 'Bill's boodle', belonging to Bill English. Vast quantities of banknotes spill out of the cash pocket in the wallet which also contains a 'travel card', a 'house card' and an 'expenses card'. The various cards in the wallet refer to expense account embarrassments relating to Bill English. Etched in the ground are the words 'Christchurch quake' and 'South Canterbury Finance'. The cartoon refers to two major events in the Canterbury area in recent times that have incurred huge government costs; these are the collapse of the South Canterbury Finance Company and the earthquake that struck early Saturday morning 4th September. The South Canterbury Finance Company has been taken into receivership by the government which has guaranteed that all 30,000 fortunate high-risk investors will be paid out $1.6b thanks to the taxpayer. Treasury is assuming that the cost of the earthquake will reach $4 billion, including $2 billion worth of estimated damage to private dwellings and their contents, $1 billion of damage to commercial property, and $1 billion worth of damage to public infrastructure. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The Queen tells Prince Philip that she has received a 'Dear John' letter from PM John Key and that it 'seems the earth has moved for him back in NZ'. Text above reads 'Keynote'. In a second version the queen says that John Key 'preferred to stay at home 'cos the earth moved'. A third version refers to the decision of the PM to remain in New Zealand because of the Christchurch earthquake instead of going on a trip to Europe with his wife during which they were to have stayed at the invitation of the Queen at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Quantity: 3 digital cartoon(s).
Text reads 'New fault lines?' and the cartoon depicts a Star of David as cracks in the ground. A second version has the text 'Aftershocks' and the cartoon depicts a shaky Star of David and big movements on a seismograph. The third version depicts the same image as the first but has the text 'SISpicious cracks'. Context: The Southland Times reported on 20th July that an Israeli national killed in the February Christchurch Earthquake was a Mossad spy. PM John Key has confirmed that an investigation into the four Israelis involved was carried out by police and the SIS but he said no evidence was found of a link between the group and Israeli intelligence. It would seem that the group were backpackers, not Mossad agents. Three versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 3 digital cartoon(s).
A man dozes in front of the television news which reports in four cameos 'Israel defies UN!, Israel assassinates Palestinian leaders!, land seized and homes bulldozed, Israel smashes Palestinian infrastructure!, Gaza shelled!', Israel blocks aid convoys! Nine die!, Palestinians children traumatised'. In the last cameo the newsreader says 'Israeli spies in NZ - maybe!' and the man wakes up and fully alert yells 'WHAT!' Context: We only care when the news is close to home! The Southland Times reported on 20th July that an Israeli national killed in the February Christchurch Earthquake was a Mossad spy. PM John Key has confirmed that an investigation into the four Israelis involved was carried out by police and the SIS but he said no evidence was found of a link between the group and Israeli intelligence. It would seem that the group were backpackers, not Mossad agents. Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
A large group of people stand on a huge sundial in a pattern that forms a map of New Zealand; the hand of the sundial casts a shadow that falls on nine minutes to one. Context - the people of New Zealand maintained a vigil of two minutes silence at 12.51 on 1 March which was exactly a week after the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February struck. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows an egg that represents '2012' with a chick beginning to peck its way out. In the background storms rage. Someone hopes that it will 'be softer and fuzzier than the last one!' Context: Refers to the difficulties and disasters of 2011 in New Zealand. Christchurch earthquakes and aftershocks continue with complicating rebuilding and insurance issues, the wreck of the Rena, and various weather events and political issues. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A Christchurch seismic monitor churns out reams of paper with wild fluctuations showing earthquakes and aftershocks. Nearby two men examine a second monitor and one of them says 'This one's connected to Gerry Brownlee!' The reams of paper show a perfectly straight line - it appears that nothing is going on in Gerry Brownlee's head. Context - A sense that the Minister for Earthquake Recovery is being less than effective. Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
An adviser tells the minister that the PM is going to make sure that no cowboy builders make a quick buck out of the massive rebuilding project. The minister curses because he is in the process of getting his box of tools ready. Refers to rebuilding damaged buildings in the wake of the Canterbury earthquake of 4th September 2010. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
As a man and a woman walk along the man comments that 'for 2 minutes yesterday people were joined as one in a spirit of caring and thoughtful reflection...' The woman, speaking about their personal life, wonders why they only ever manage 2 minutes of that. Context - at 12.51 pm on Tuesday 1 March 2011 (exactly a week after the catastrophic Christchurch earthquake of 22 February) all of New Zealand stopped for two minutes of silent contemplation. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text reads 'Solution to Christchurch sewage problems?...' A woman, with a roll of toilet paper in her hand, climbs a ladder to a toilet that is positioned on a sewage pipe high above the ground. There are further toilets at intervals on the pipe. Her husband stands in the garden and observes that it is 'Easy to access and easy to repair'. Context - the Christchurch earthquakes and continuing aftershocks have done huge damage to sewage infrastructures which suggests having the pipes above ground as a solution. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A boy writes a list of items that seem to be for a camping holiday but it turns out that he lives in Christchurch and these items; a tent, a groundsheet, sleeping bags, a gas cooker and lamp and a chemical toilet are what may be needed because of earthquakes. Context: quakes and aftershocks continue unabated over Christmas and into the new year. Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
Text reads 'Canterbury lamb...' and the cartoon shows a slavering wolf that represents 'earthquake' dressed in 'lamb's clothing' and prowling in the night among other sheep. Context - The saying 'a wolf in sheep's clothing' that suggests something sinister sheltering behind something benign. Refers to the devastating Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. A third very damaging earthquake occured on 13th June 2011. 'Canterbury lamb' is well-known as a favourite meat overseas. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows the lid of a sewer that has been dislodged allowing cockroaches labelled 'looter' to crawl out. Context - The very severe Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011 in which probably more than 200 people died and an enormous amount of structural damage has been done. There are inevitably people taking advantage of the fact that there are many abandoned homes which offer rich pickings. 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).
A man walks away from a scene of destruction after an earthquake; he is reading a newspaper whose headline is 'ACC takes earthquake hit' and because he is not looking where he is going he is about to step into the sea in which lurks a shark that represents 'levies'. A second version has the shark representing 'Nick Smith'. Context - The second Christchurch more devastating earthquake of 22 February 2011 that followed an original earthquake on 4 September 2010. Levy changes from April 1 will give businesses discounts or penalties on their workplace ACC levies based on a three-year claims history but ACC Minister Nick Smith said today that the quake would be declared an "adverse event" so Christchurch employers would not be unfairly hit with a levy increase, unless they contributed materially to an employee's injuries. (NBR 10 March 2011) Two versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows a desperate man representing 'Christchurch' who is clutching the end of a broken plank that protrudes from a crumbling cliff-face. He says 'Who said we're living ON the edge?!' Context - the man is suggesting that they are not On the edge but OVER it. Refers to the continuing hardships facing many Christchurch residents as earthquakes and aftershocks continue and many face large financial losses because of insurance problems. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
MP Jim Anderton who is standing for Mayor of Christchurch in the coming local body elections (9th October) stands up to his chest in a crack in the road waving a sign that reads 'Jim Anderton for mayor' and yelling "I'm still here!' Refers to the very high profile that his rival the standing mayor Bob Parker has enjoyed in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake of 4th September 2010. Jim Anderton has rather faded out of the limelight by comparison. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A bus tours a city street with destroyed schools either side. The guide points out destruction on the right from earthquakes and on the left from Hekia Parata. Wider context is the ongoing impact of the Christchurch February 2011 earthquake. The implication is that the earthquake caused physical damage to some schools and that the Minister for Education is responsible for destroying others with her announcement of school closures in Christchurch on 18 February 2013. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Two businessmen emerge from a building wondering whether 'Bill English' has ''Made any uplifting pronouncements on the economy or budget lately?..' On the footpath outside is Finance Minister Bill English wearing a sandwich board that reads 'the end is nigh' and carrying a banner that reads 'We're doomed'. Context - the impact of an already struggling economy of the Christchurch earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
An elderly couple sit having afternoon tea and chatting about Prince William's visit to Christchurch after the February 22 earthquake. The woman expresses delight that 'Prince William took time out to visit Christchurch' and her husband comments that there is 'Not much talk about becoming a republic lately'. Context - The Christchurch earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011 and Prince William's subsequent visit. Also discussion about New Zealand's becoming a republic; there is a Republican Movement who are promoting the idea of an elected head of state. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).