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).
After being trapped for hours on the 22nd floor of a hotel following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, Andy Cleverley decided life had to change. Chucking in his corporate life, he bought an old school bus, converted it into an off-grid motorhome and set off travelling the country with his young family. Documenting everything along the way he created Bus Life NZ - followed by over 46,000 people and viewed by millions. Now he's done it all again with a second bus and a second YouTube season.
The cartoon shows a starry night sky and the words 'He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!' Translates as 'What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people! It is people!' Context - may refer to a sense of heightened unease because of the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011 and now the catastrophic Japanese earthquake of 11 March 2011 that is threatening nuclear disaster because of the meltdown of spent fuel rods in nuclear reactors in Fukushima. Colour and black and white versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows a digger dredging through the rubble and digging up a red heart representing 'hope' (Tom Scott doesn't do colour so this is significant). A rescuer nearby yells 'Careful! It's still beating'. Context - on 22 February 2011 a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck in Christchurch which has probably killed more than 200 people (at this point the number is still not known) and caused much more severe damage. There were many people trapped in collapsed buildings and it was apparent in only two or three days that in most cases they could not have survived but of course people still held out impossible hope. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows the name in large capital letters 'Christchurch' with the 't' drawn as the Christian cross symbol. Below is text reading '"These deaths are our greatest loss. They remind us that buildings are just buildings, roads just roads, but people are irreplaceable" John Key' Context - The very severe Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011 in which probably more than 200 people died. Two versions of this cartoon are available 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).
A woman says to a builder 'Christchurch people will really appreciate your help to rebuild - What you construct looks like it's already been hit by an earthquake'. They are standing in front of a very shoddily-built cottage and the garden is festooned with litter. Context - After the Christchurch earthquakes there is a huge emphasis on fast rebuilding with the potential for below standard results.. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows a mobile phone with a text on it that reads 'Dear Chch (Christchurch) thinking of u (you) all xxx NZ'. Context: Refers to the commemoration events taking place in Christchurch on 22 February 2012 which is the first anniversary of the 2011 earthquake which killed 185 people. Mobile phones were instrumental in helping to locate victims and in enabling people to communicate with trapped victims. B&W and colour versions of this cartoon available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
Text at top left reads 'Don't forget rubbish day' The cartoon is a large wheelie bin stacked high with debris from 'old dunger buildings'. Someone in a damaged house nearby says 'Good riddance!' Context - Two earthquakes and hundreds of aftershocks have hit Christchurch, the first on 4 September 2010 and a second more devastating one on 22 February 2011. Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee may or may not have actually used the words 'old dungers' to describe some of Christchurch's heritage buildings that are not worth keeping but he might as well have done because many people believe that this is the way he thinks. Debate about which heritage buildings should be kept and which demolished has begun along with debate about how the city should be rebuilt. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Photographs of people gathered in the grounds of Parliament on 1 March 2011 to observe two minutes silence to remember the people killed in the Christchurch earthquake on 22 February 2011. Arrangement: Images were originally in a folder labelled '2 Minutes Silence for Christchurch Earthquake Mar 1 2011' within the folder '300111 Fairs, Festivals & Protests Jan to July 2011' Quantity: 15 digital photograph(s).
The cartoon depicts the Minister of Earthquakes Gerry Brownlee, with a portaloo in place of a head. He holds in his hand a document which reads 'Govt appointed quake panel (Shipley etc) paid twice normal fees: $1000 - 1400 daily'. A voice from inside the toilet says 'It's because they're high calibre people!' Context: Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee lobbied his colleagues to pay a Government-appointed panel more than twice the recommended rate because he claimed they would not do it for less - even though he never asked them. On Mr Brownlee's advice, the Cabinet more than doubled the pay rates for the panel from the recommended fees, which was a daily rate of $360 to $655 for the panel chairman and $270 to $415 for panel members. The Cabinet increased this to $1400 a day for the chairman and $1000 a day for the other members. (NZ Herald, 9 August 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows as asterisks, stars etc a list of curses and swear words used to describe the EQC, delays, Roger Sutton, Gerry Brownlee and insurance companies. Context: The words describe the frustration and stress being experienced by many people in Canterbury post earthquake. 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).
Text reads 'The new liquefaction?...' and the cartoon depicts a huge mass of 'insurance red tape' inside which is a man with a spade. Two people stare despairingly at the red tape and the man says 'How are we EVER gonna rebuild with this stuff bubbling up!' Context: The people are trying to rebuild their house after the Christchurch earthquakes and are having trouble with their insurance company. The Press has been contacted by people unable to get insurance to buy new homes, construct buildings or start businesses. Business leaders have called insurance delays a "cancer" eating away at the city's recovery, and Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has acknowledged insurance is an "ongoing problem". (The Press - 24 August 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Three people stand looking down at a small model of the 'Christchurch CBD'. One of the people says 'Love the safer low-rise plan What's the scale?' A second man says 'Scale? Er this is the actual size!' Context: Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has dedicated the draft plan for a new-look Christchurch CBD to those lost in the February earthquake. The CBD will be about a quarter of its original size under the draft plan which was unanimously adopted by the council today. (TVNZ 11 August 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Several volunteers work amongst the ruins of a building. A woman nearby weeps and the man comforting her comments 'and to think we believed sports stars were our national heroes'. Context - on 22 February 2011 a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck in Christchurch which has probably killed more than 200 people (at this point the number is still not known) and caused very severe damage. There has been enormous praise for the efforts of many ordinary people who have shown courage in the catastrophe. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Two people peer out from underneath a table waiting for an earthquake predicted by astrologer Ken Ring. One of them says 'Load of rubbish that Ken Ring prediction eh?' and the other agrees. Context - After the two big earthquakes in Christchurch on 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011, the so-called Moon Man, Ken Ring, is backing away from his prediction that Christchurch will be whacked by a huge earthquake on the 20th of March 2011. His claims terrified Cantabrians and led to people fleeing Christchurch. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A notice on the cordon fence around the site where the CTV building once was. It says 'Please respect this site. In recognition of the special significance this site holds for the people of our city and all those affect by the earthquakes, the Christchurch City Council is working with Canterbury Museum to preserve aspects of our remembering. Tributes may be left at this site. Older tributes will be removed from archiving by the Canterbury Museum to become part of the city's memory of the Canterbury Earthquakes. Organic materials will be composted and used in the city's gardens'.
A notice on the fence outside the CTV site on Madras Street. The notice reads, "Please respect this site. In recognition of the special significance this site holds for the people of our city and all those affected by the earthquakes, the Christchurch City Council is working with Canterbury Museum to preserve aspects of our remembering. Tributes may be left at this site. Older tributes will be removed for archiving by the Canterbury Museum to become part of the city's memory of the Canterbury Earthquakes. Organic materials will be composted and used in the city's gardens. Canterbury Museum. Christchurch City Council".
Dove carries worm to chicks in a sunlit nest; the background is broken columns and rubble. Context - the 22nd February 2012 was the first anniversary of the earthquake of 22nd February 2011 in which 185 people died. Title created by librarian Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A ghoul appears beside the bed of a sleeping couple. The man says to his wife 'Relax dear... That bump in the night wasn't an aftershock!' Context: the suggestion is that in Christchurch people are more worried about aftershocks than ghosts. Refers to the Christchurch earthquakes. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The minister wants to ask people at Treasury how they are getting on with all the unexpected expenses but cannot get them on his cellphone. His adviser tells him that they are all out holding garage sales and sausage sizzles. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Recognising that informal (also termed family, whānau, aiga or unpaid) caregivers/carers are a vital part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system, providing care and support for loved ones, whānau, friends and neighbours, this study aimed to explore the experiences of older informal caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Priority research questions were: how did informal caregivers experience caregiving during the pandemic, and how might we support them during another pandemic, disaster, or national emergency? To our knowledge, this is the first exploration of such experiences in Aotearoa New Zealand. We wanted to understand the unprecedented challenges and barriers informal caregivers faced during the pandemic and highlight the resilience and mana (power, strength) of informal caregivers in overcoming them. To explore the lived experiences of informal caregiving during the pandemic, the research team travelled across New Zealand between May 2023 and February 2024 to conduct 81 in-depth interviews, with 73 completed face-to-face, four via Zoom and four by phone. A total of 34 male and 47 female informal caregivers were interviewed, including 35 Māori and 46 non-Māori. The mean age of participants was 66 years old. Thirty-nine rural and 42 urban-dwelling informal caregivers were interviewed, and the study covered both the North and South Islands. A Kaupapa Māori researcher and a Māori adviser oversaw appropriate tikanga (processes), kōrero (discussion) and manaakitanga (care and support) for all the Māori participants interviewed. The COVID-19 pandemic placed significant strain on older informal caregivers in Aotearoa New Zealand, exacerbating existing challenges and exposing critical gaps in support systems. Many participants experienced heightened emotional and psychological distress due to increased caregiving demands, social isolation, and the disruption of formal and informal support networks. The closure of essential services meant that informal caregivers in this study had to navigate complex healthcare systems with little guidance, often facing bureaucratic hurdles and limited access to respite care. Financial strain further compounded these difficulties, with some participants struggling to meet the rising costs associated with informal caregiving while experiencing reduced income or employment instability. For Māori participants, the inability to engage in kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) interactions with whānau and communities disrupted cultural traditions such as whanaungatanga, tangihanga (funeral practices), and communal caregiving, intensifying feelings of isolation and distress. Despite these challenges, participants demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability, drawing on their life experiences (or "resilience in older people") and existing support systems to navigate the pandemic. Many participants relied on self-sufficiency, using strategies learned from past crises and disasters such as the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes and the 1940s/1950s polio epidemics to manage caregiving responsibilities and everyday challenges with limited external assistance. Strengthened relationships with care recipients and an increased sense of community support were positive outcomes for some participants, who found solace in tighter family bonds and mutual aid from neighbours and local groups. Māori participants, in particular, emphasised the importance of cultural and community-based networks, with iwi and extended whānau playing crucial roles in providing informal support. These findings underscore the need for policies that recognise and support the diverse needs of informal caregivers, including tailored caregiving assistance, clearer communication about available services, and culturally responsive caregiving frameworks that strengthen resilience in future health crises. Findings from this study highlight the need for: 1) tailored, context-specific support systems: Formal support services must be more flexible to accommodate the diverse needs of informal caregivers, particularly those in rural and Māori communities; 2) Improved access to information and services: Many participants were unaware of available support, pointing to the need for clearer, caregiver-specific communication and helplines; 3) Enhancing emotional and social support mechanisms: Regular check-ins from healthcare providers and community groups could alleviate the emotional burden of caregiving; and 4) Resilience-based and bicultural approaches to caregiving support: Policies should integrate Māori perspectives on informal caregiving and strengthen social capital among informal caregivers. It is clear from this research that no one-size-fits-all approach is appropriate for supporting informal caregivers. This research provides a critical evidence base for improving the support structures available to informal caregivers, ensuring they are better prepared for future pandemics, disasters, and national emergencies.
Several months after the Canterbury earthquakes the Minister for the Redevelopment of Christchurch, Gerry Brownlee, tells people in Christchurch to stop fretting as 'Christchurch will still be a very English looking city'. He refers to several rebuilding options that imitate English cities. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
An MC announces at the 'Awards' ceremony a special ward 'For a REAL leading role - Bob Parker!' Context -the Mayor of Christchurch has provided calm measured encouragement and support to the people of Christchurch in an exemplary way since the earthquake of 22 February 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A crowd of rather sad people queue for jobs and work at the Christchurch rebuild; all around them are signs that read 'Pike River', 'leaky buildings', 'Chch quake rebuild', 'EQC levy hike', '200,000 children in poverty', 'food prices up', 'deficit', and 'GST hike'. Prime Minister John Key in the centre of the crowd yells 'Hey everyone - look up there!' as he kicks a rugby ball into the sky. Context: John Key attempts to divert the attention of people from New Zealand's current woes. Quantity: 1 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).
Two cowboys representing the CCC (Christchurch City Council) and 'protesters' are about to have a gun battle in a deserted street. Context: Relates to anger and a protest of 4000 people at what they see as poor performance by the City Council in dealing with earthquake issues. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon has stripes above the words 'RED & BLACK kia kaha Christchurch'. Context - red and black are the Canterbury colours - the cartoon is a tribute to the people of Christchurch after the disastrous earthquake of 22 February 2011. 'Kia kaha' means 'forever strong'. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A policeman and his dog stop outside a house wrecked in the Christchurch earthquake and phone for assistance saying 'Have found signs of low-life' because he can see 'Christchurch looting in progress'. Context - on 22 February 2011 a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck in Christchurch, which has probably killed more than 200 people (at this point the number is still not known) and caused very severe damage. The courage, generosity and 'can do' attitude of the people has been wonderful apart from the antisocial behaviour of a few looters and others taking advantage of the situation. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).