The cartoon shows members of the 'Japan Seismic Institute studying an earthquake graph; one of them says 'Where was that Kiwi moonman when we wanted him?' Depicted also is thew 'moonman' Ken Ring as a wizard studying an astrological chart. Behind them all Japan is depicted as a devastated wasteland. Context - the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of 4th March 2011 and the present threat of a nuclear catastrophe. Also the so-called Moon Man, astrologer Ken Ring, who predicted that Christchurch would be hit by a huge earthquake today (20 March 2011). His claims have terrified Cantabrians and led to people fleeing Christchurch. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
In the top panel a kiwi reads the newspaper which has headlines reading 'Milk prices', 'BMW limos', 'Dodgy politicians', and 'Foreign despot news' and says 'Let's get this all in perspective'. In the lower panel the kiwi walks among the ruins and the graves of Christchurch and thinks 'Christchurch and Canterbury need our attention and care!!' 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. The headlines refer to Fonterra putting a freeze on the price of milk, the government buying expensive limos (both of these making headlines because of the state of the economy) and lastly the 'foreign despot' is Gaddafi in Libya. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Debbie says brightly that Christchurch has 'demonstrated the classic Kiwi quality of stoicism and behaving decently towards each other!' Jaimee replies that it's the same stoicism that means we complain a lot about our problems but never really do anything and Debbie tells her that applies just to her. Refers to the Christchurch earthquake of 4th September. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Commentary from the cartoonist 'The Earthquake Commission's leak of 83,000 files is like a storyline from Alfred Hitchcock: : a loon attempts to shock a nation that has already been rendered braindead from previous shocks.Note: EQC is ued here as an 'echo' of the term ECT [electro convulsive therapy...ie shock treatment].' In March 2013, there was a massive leak of of some 83,000 EQC files relating to individual claims relating to the Christchurch earthquakes. Quantity: 1 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).
A man with his arm around his wife and baby stands on a heap of rubble with a spade in his other hand. In the background are the Christchurch Cathedral and several other badly damaged buildings and a signpost reading 'Christchurch' lies on top of the rubble. Text reads 'Buildings may fall but the Kiwi spirit and compassion for our neighbours will never be crushed...' There are two versions of the cartoon, one in colour and one black and white. Refers to the Christchurch earthquake of 4th September 2010. Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
Four cameos on events of the week. The struggle for the US Republican Party to find a suitable presidential candidate. A Croatian tourism official has been sacked over comments about "drunk and crazy" New Zealand and Australian tourists. 'Mother Nature' is an 'unfit mother' in Christchurch because of the earthquakes. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text below the image reads 'More silence?..' Prime Minister John Key and the Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand and several 'hangers-on' almost suffer coronaries when an official suggests in discussions about 'cost-saving ideas' that 'One of the National Projects we could "reprioritise" in the wake of the earthquake is to axe any Kiwi VIP attendance at the royal wedding'. Context - The PM and Governor General are thought to be on the list for invitations to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton but after the catastrophic Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011, which is going to cost the country billions, a wag wonders whether they should go. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text at top left reads 'Christchurch display portaloos' Four different styles of portaloo are shown; the "Merivale", the 'Sumner", the "Heritage" and the "Eastsider"; someone inside the 'Eastsider says 'At least I'm open plan AND mobile!' Context - After the tow Christchurch earthquakes and hundreds of aftershocks that have hit Christchurch one of the problems is lack of toilets because of damage to buildings and also damage to sewage systems so many portaloos and chemical toilets have been sent to Christchurch. However many people have resorted to the good old kiwi way and dug long-drops in the backyard. A website 'showusyourlongdrop.co.nz' has been developed by Christchurch man Jason Moore, who was inspired by photographs of Christchurch dunnies uploaded to Facebook. There has been a competition. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text reads 'Ricky Ponting said his team would show respect for those affected by the Christchurch earthquake and treat the Black Caps like brothers'. A kiwi Black Cap is startled as a cricket ball bounces off his head. Context - Captain Ricky Ponting said he and his team were saddened by the news of the devastation that hit New Zealand on Tuesday (Christchurch earthquake 22 February 2011) He said the Australian cricket team will show respect for those affected by the Christchurch earthquake when they take the field against New Zealand in Nagpur today. In fact the Black Caps got a hammering from Australia and were 206 ALL OUT. Australia 207/3 - AUSTRALIA WIN. Captain Vettori however denied that the earthquake may have been responsible for the loss and said the Black Caps were professionals. (26 February 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text at the top of the cartoon reads 'News - A "Moon man non-event lunch" will be held above Christchurch to defy quake predictions for that day'. In tea rooms on hills above Christchurch a group of people enjoy lunch as they defy precaution against a predicted earthquake. They order a 'pot o' tea', 'pie & chips', 'sandwich & coke' and a 'shake & roll'; above in a black and thunderous cloud God thinks he heard someone request a shake & a roll'. 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 today (20 March 2011). His claims have terrified Cantabrians and led to people fleeing Christchurch. M.P. Nick Smith and the Skeptics Society are planning a lunch in one of Christchurch's highest, oldest, stone buildings - on the day that "moon man" Ken Ring says the city will be hit by another devastating earthquake ; the lunch will be held at noon on March 20 at the Sign of the Kiwi, on the top of the Port Hills - which Smith said was the closest building to the epicentre of the February 22 quake. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Governor of the Reserve Bank Allan Bollard holds a spade over his shoulder and a roll of toilet paper in his hand. Text reads 'Reserve Bank governor moves to restore confidence after the quake -' and Bollard says '..past the silver beet, left at the last of the beans and it's right by the caulis!' The little Evans man says 'What a relief!' 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. Toilets have been a real problem after the earthquakes with thousands of chemical toilets and portaloos being shipped in - some people, however, use the old kiwi method of digging a long-drop in the back garden. The Reserve Bank has made a relatively large 50-point cut in its benchmark interest rate, the Official Cash Rate (from 3% to 2.5 per cent). Critics say that inflation is already running unacceptably high and there is a threat of much higher inflation in a year or two when the rebuilding of Christchurch begins to put pressure on limited resources. The Reserve Bank acknowledged these factors, but it has chosen instead to focus on the immediate impact of the earthquake on the economy and particularly on all-important business and consumer sentiment. (Press editorial 12 March 2011) Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).