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).
The cartoon, which looks like a woodcut depicts a muscled workman wearing a black singlet; his arms are folded and the fingers of one hand are crossed. On his arms are tattoos of a helmet and pick, a '$' symbol, a petrol pump, and a high magnitude earthquake graph. Behind him are buildings, including the Christchurch Cathedral, damaged following the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011. Below the cartoon are the words 'Apologies to Nigel Brown' - a black singlet is a recurring motif in the work of New Zealand artist Nigel Brown. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A man representing 'EQC' (Earthquake Commission) talks to a couple outside their collapsed house. He says 'Unfortunately, this is a NORTH Canterbury collapse - so you'll only get your first $100,000 back.' Context: This refers both to the collapse of the South Canterbury Finance Company and to the problems that people are having with insurance companies in North Canterbury after the first Christchurch earthquake on September 4th 2010. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows Christchurch Cathedral shattered and with its steeple gone after the earthquake on 22 February 2011. The words 'The oSCARs' (wordplay on 'Oscars' and 'scars') are in the top left corner and the text 'The worst picture' are in the centre. A second version shows an 'Oscar' statuette with a crown on its head. Context - The Christchurch earthquake 22 February 2011 and the 2011 Oscars - annual film awards. Two versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A man carrying a life-saving ring printed with the words 'Marlborough Chamber of Commerce' that is attached to a rope labelled 'Business lifeline' shouts 'Ahoy Christchurch businesses!' Context - enticing Christchurch businesses to other places after the earthquake. Marlborough Chamber of Commerce general manager Brian Dawson said the chamber's first priority was supporting Christchurch businesses through their association with the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. "When people start to weigh up their options, Marlborough has to be an option. We can show them Marlborough's an attractive place to do business." Residential development could also benefit from Christchurch arrivals, he said. (Stuff 2 March 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The arms of a woman who represents New Zealand reach out to a baby to whom she has just given birth. The baby represents '2011' and is a particularly hideous specimen. The doctor who holds the baby says 'He's cute now but wait 'til he gets older!' Outside the window is seen a cracked and damaged landscape and a storm rages; the headstone of a grave reads 'RIP 2010'. Context - Christchurch or maybe the South Island have had a bad year because of the Pike River Mine disaster and the earthquake of 4 September 2010. There is perhaps prescience in this cartoon because on 22 February 2011 a much worse earthquake hit Christchurch. Published in The Press Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
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).
Text above reads 'Prince William comes to Christchurch...' A special royal portaloo has been arranged for the visit of Prince William to Christchurch; it is built to resemble a castle and has gold door fittings. On either side of the portaloo stands a sentry guard. The prince who is inside whispers 'I can't find the royal flush button' (wordplay on 'royal flush' and the 'flush' of a toilet) Context - Prince William visited the Civil Defence headquarters in Christchurch with Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker on the 17th March to see the damage caused by the earthquakes of the 4th September 2010 and the 22 February 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
On September the 4th 2010 and February 22nd 2011 the Canterbury region of New Zealand was shaken by two massive earthquakes. This paper is set broadly within the civil defence and emergency management literature and informed by recent work on community participation and social capital in the building of resilient cities. Work in this area indicates a need to recognise both the formal institutional response to the earthquakes as well as the substantive role communities play in their own recovery. The range of factors that facilitate or hinder community involvement also needs to be better understood. This paper interrogates the assumption that recovery agencies and officials are both willing and able to engage communities who are themselves willing and able to be engaged in accordance with recovery best practice. Case studies of three community groups – CanCERN, Greening the Rubble and Gap Filler – illustrate some of the difficulties associated with becoming a community during the disaster recovery phase. Based on my own observations and experiences, combined with data from approximately 50 in-depth interviews with Christchurch residents and representatives from community groups, the Christchurch City Council, the Earthquake Commission and so on, this paper outlines some practical strategies emerging communities may use in the early disaster recovery phase that then strengthens their ability to ‘participate’ in the recovery process.
A Christchurch man wants to let his home. He stands in a fissure in the garden and tells a man with a large dog who is interested in renting 'Sorry, no dogs! They dig too many holes!' Context: Post earthquake Christchurch tries to return to normal. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text reads 'Rebuilding projects'. The first of the two frames shows collapsed buildings in Christchurch after the earthquake and the second frame shows leader of the Labour Party Phil Goff sorely in need of 'credibility' as he makes the 'V' for victory sign with both hands. Context - the rebuilding of Christchurch after the earthquake of 22 March 2011 and Phil Goff's disastrous personal polling as 'preferred PM' and the concomitant problems for the Labour Party with elections in November of this year. Colour and black and white versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
A cheerful old woman sits with a cup of tea on her sofa watching television with an enormous boulder beside her. She says 'Big and solid it reminded me of my late husband but then I realized that in two weeks it hasn't once broken wind, belched or called for a beer, or gone and changed the channel and I think I'm in love!' The little Evans man says 'Stone me!' Context - The Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011. Some people remain cheerful and optimistic in spite of dreadfully difficult conditions. Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon consists of the words 'More quACHES' drawn with a stencil. Context - Two more earthquakes rocked Christchurch on 13th June, following those of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011. The first magnitude 5.5 quake struck at 1pm, 10 kilometres east of Christchurch at Taylor's Mistake beach, at a depth of 11 kilometres, and sent people scrambling for cover. It was followed at 2.20pm by a more powerful magnitude 6 quake, centred 10 kilometres southeast of the city and 9km underground. There is a wordplay on 'quakes' and 'aches'. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows a caricature of Prince William accompanied by the words 'Good Wills'. A second version has the words 'GOOD WILLiam' and the third has the words 'Good Will'. Context - Prince William visited New Zealand, and Christchurch in particular, after the earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011 in Christchurch. Quantity: 3 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows stenciled text in black and white that reads 'GRIEF THE PRICE WE PAY FOR LOVE'. Context - The earliest stages of the rebuilding of Christchurch after the earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon depicts a little plant with two tiny leaves; text reads 'THE GARDEN CITY'. A second version includes the words 'Begins to grow again'. Context - The earliest stages of the rebuilding of Christchurch after the earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011. Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon suggests that the Kiwi character has too much of a 'She'll be right' attitude. Refers to a 1996 documentary called 'Earthquake!' which outlined the effects of a major earthquake on Christchurch's eastern suburbs and heritage buildings. The director Grant Dixon says lives could have been saved if officials had heeded the film's warnings. (Stuff: 11 March 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text above the image reads 'Time capsules unearthed in Christchurch' A man reads a newspaper which says 'Petrol is so cheap you can actually afford to run one of these new-fangled motor cars...' Context - when a bronze statue of Christchurch founder John Robert Godley, which stood in Cathedral Square, toppled during the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011, a crane driver clearing rubble discovered two time capsules. One is a small glass capsule with a hand-written letter on gold parchment inside, while the other is a large metal-like object, yet to be opened. A Nelson newspaper 'The Colonist' in an article published in 1918, about the time capsule in Christchurch said, "This statute of John Robert Godley executed by Thomas Woolner was erected in the west side of the Cathedral Square by the Provincial Government of Canterbury, and unveiled by the late Sir Charles Christopher Bowen on August 6 1867, it was moved to this site in March 1918." The man in the cartoon reads a bout the cost of petrol being incredibly cheap and thinks it refers to today's prices. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A man struggles to hold upright a rigid and obstinate man who is shaking like an earthquake. The man pushing says 'That's NOT what we meant by quake strengthening Aaron!' Context: Aaron Gilmore is a councillor, a new councillor, and has been bucking the trend when it comes to voting for the CEO Tony Marryatt who is tied up with CERA, the canterbury earthquake authority, by publicly making his personal views known to the public on radio etc before the voting has been cast. Councillors are meant to present an unbiased facade when it comes to voting. Gilmore was talking to the media and in obvious support of Marryatt....the result being that there was pressure on Gilmore to abstain from voting and stand down from the process. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text at top reads 'Some Christchurch suburbs to move?... The cartoon shows three complete suburbs that have been dug up and are now being flown by helicopters attached to tall towers to their new spots on the Australian Gold Coast. Someone in one of the houses on the move yells 'Woohoo! Yeehaa! Well... As NZ and Ozzie are such great mates... Gold Coast here we come!' Context - In some cases where whole communities have to move because the earthquakes have made it impossible for them to remain in their present locations, many in the community have elected to try to move and relocate together in order to retain their old neighbours and community spirit. 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).
Text across the top of the cartoon reads 'You know you live in Christchurch when...' Six cameos follow reading 'You can stir a cup of coffee without a spoon' - a cup of coffee is shaken; 'after 30 years you finally know your neighbours' - a group of people get to know one another; 'the latest fitness craze is sandba' - a couple shovel a heap of liquefaction to music from their transistor; 'everyone gets to drive a slalom' - someone weaves along a road avoiding cracks and mud in their car; 'there's a craze in "unique garden features"' - a longdrop has been dug in the garden; and lastly 'you have tea under a doorframe' - a couple eats and drinks under a doorframe for safety. Context - the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011. Published in The Press Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text across the top of the cartoon reads 'Mayor in Nepal' Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker climbs a snowy slope towards 'Mt Junket'; he is followed by sherpas carrying candles, dining table and wine glasses. Bob Parker says 'I am focused on the summit and they don't get much bigger than this!' Context - Bob Parker gave the keynote address at a United Nations-sanctioned symposium in Nepal on disaster-risk reduction. The UN and the United States Government paid Parker's costs. The disaster risk symposium featured speakers from Pakistan and Haiti - two countries struck by large earthquakes.(The Press 15 February 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Cartoon depicts a person wearing a "Rachel Hunter disguise" saying "Maybe NOW they'll let me into the Red Zone!". A second person responds "It won't happen overnight... but it will happen!". Refers to frustration from Christchurch business owners at not being allowed into the Red Zone following the earthquake on 22 February 2011. Source of information: Heather, Ben. "Anger rising outside red zone". 'The Press', 3 June 2011, https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5094323/Anger-rising-outside-red-zone accessed 25 November 2025. Title taken from item. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s). Processing information: Description written by Library staff updated as part of reparative description work November 2025. Details available on request.
A woman walks along a ruined road passing a broken sewer leaking raw sewage; rats abound and a voice from a nearby medical centre asks 'Got anything for cholera, Delhi belly and dysentery?' A sign offering 'Flu shots now' stands outside the centre. Context - Christchurch post earthquake of 22 February 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A new gateway into Christchurch is named 'Highway to hell'. Context: describes the way many Christchurch people feel about their city after the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. There is a high level of frustration and feelings of helplessness brought about by uncertainty about the future because of building and insurance problems. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text above the image reads 'Time capsule discovered under founder's statue-' The statue of John Robert Godley, the founder of Christchurch, has toppled and a time capsule has been uncovered in the rubble by three rescue workers. One of them reads the document he has pulled out of the capsule and it says 'Personally I favoured Akaroa...' Context - the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011 after which 2 time capsules were found under the John Robert Godfrey statue - they have been sent to Museum experts to open. Akaroa was largely unaffected by the earthquake. A Nelson newspaper 'The Colonist' in an article published in 1918 about the time capsule in Christchurch said, "This statute of John Robert Godley executed by Thomas Woolner was erected in the west side of the Cathedral Square by the Provincial Government of Canterbury, and unveiled by the late Sir Charles Christopher Bowen on August 6 1867, it was moved to this site in March 1918." (3 News 2 March 2011) Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
In the top two frames a man discovers a pile of stinking bones and scratches his head in puzzlement; he is pleased when a second man rushes towards him with another bone which, in the lower frame, he proceeds to try to fit together with a bone from the original stack. The second man then realizes that the dinosaur from which he took the bone is starting to shudder and quake. Context - This is a metaphor about the rebuilding the city of Christchurch after the earthquake of 22 February 2011. Debates are beginning about the preserving or knocking down of historic buildings as well as the rebuilding or repairing of houses. Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
The title is 'Gerry BrownLie?' and the cartoon shows the Minister for Earthquake recovery, Gerry Brownlee, saying 'It was NOT a lie. It was a false promise'. Context: Earthquake Minister Gerry Brownlee has apologised for falsely promising red zone homeowners they would be paid out for improvements to their house. Brownlee promised in June that, in some cases, home improvements like new kitchens would be included in the government settlement offer for red zone houses. But the offer is only valid if the improvement has added to the footprint of the house. (Press - 4 September 2011) Alternate version of DCDL-0018758 Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A policeman stops a queue of politicians at a checkpoint in Christchurch saying 'Sorry, no politics past this point'. In the queue are Prime Minister John Key, Minister of Finance Bill English carrying a ledger, leader of ACT Rodney Hide wearing his yellow jacket and carrying an axe and a saw and lastly leader of the Labour Party Phil Goff. Context - the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011 and the danger of political point-scoring rather than serious co-operative work to rebuild Christchurch. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).