Cartoons about political and social issues in New Zealand and overseas. The cartoon has the words 'Tsunami Warning cancelled' in the centre. Above are the words 'The end is nigh... insurance running out! No more cover!' Below the word 'cancelled' are the words 'We have reinsurance!' Context - Civil Defence has cancelled a tsunami warning after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the Kermadec Islands this morning (7 July 2011) The tsunami image is used to illustrate the problems that could arise from lack of insurance in Christchurch. When their policies run out on 30 June Earthquake-hit Christchurch and Waimakariri councils are in danger of having no property insurance because as the CEO of Civic Assurance, which insures most councils, says, 'the company cannot buy reinsurance'. There was also a potential problem for home-owners when AMI Insurance, the largest insurer of homes in Christchurch, was threatening insolvency. However, AMI has announced that it has re-insurance cover for earthquakes and other natural disasters from tomorrow (1 July 2011) for the next year. The Government feared AMI Insurance's directors would wind up the company affecting a huge section of New Zealand's insurance market and derail the reconstruction of Christchurch, official documents confirm. AMI said it had doubled its cover for the year to June 2012 after three large quakes in the year to June 2011. (Stuff 30 June 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The globe is depicted as a hand grenade; the skeletal remains of a hand reach out to 'pull the pin'. Context - the fragility of the world from a New Zealand point of view seen in the light of the Christchurch earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011 and the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of 22 February 2011 and the present threat of a nuclear catastrophe caused by damaged nuclear power plants. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
In three small frames above the main frame, milk tankers are shown bumping wildly over Christchurch roads made uneven by the earthquakes of September 4 2010 and February 22 2011; and in the large frame below a man is painting out the word 'milk' on a tanker and replacing it with the word 'butter'. Context - the bad roads caused by the erathquakes in Canterbury have turned the milk into butter. Colour and black and white versions available Title from file name Quantity: 2 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).
A huge fist representing 'quakes', that is wearing a boxing glove, thumps a man who represents 'CHCH' (Christchurch) 'WHUMP! WHUMP! WHUMP!' The man is knocked out. Context - Magnitude 6.0 and 5.5 earthquakes rocked Christchurch again at 1pm and 2.20pm on 13th June 2011. These quakes follow the first earthquake on September 4th 2010 and the second on February 22nd 2011. (www.stuff.co.nz, 13 June 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text reads 'The earth takes... the world gives'. The cartoon shows an image of the globe with New Zealand in the centre - the continents seem to have formed themselves into a grieving face and arms which reach out to New Zealand. 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. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows a flag which looks rather like that of both Australia and New Zealand but not exactly like either; the Union Jack is half out of the top left corner and there are just three of New Zealand's four red stars and three of Australia's white stars. The cartoonist's title is 'Aust NZ united in tragedy'. Context - The Queensland floods of December 2010 to January 2011. Colour and black and white versions available. Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
People stand in front of a damaged house in New Brighton. The upper storey at the front of the house has collapsed onto the floor below. The photographer comments, "This house at 158 Marine Parade, New Brighton, Christchurch was owned by the man leaning on the fence. He lived next door and his daughter lived here. During the earthquake the 2nd storey stayed mainly whole, but the 1st collapsed. Luckily the daughter was in the top storey. She was rescued from the building by neighbours, by climbing out of the window and down a ladder. Another piece of luck is that most of the belongings were stored in boxes in the garage at the front. Though the garage also collapsed the boxes appear intact. The owner had tried to sell it previously without success".
The cartoon shows New Zealand's flag but it has lost one of its four stars. Down in the lower right corner a group of rescue workers using cranes, a cherry picker and a long ladder have pulled the fourth star out of the rubble and are replacing it on the flag. Context - on 22 February 2011 a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck in Christchurch which killed 185 people and caused very severe damage. Colour and black and white versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 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).
The title reads 'Future Christchurch CBD?...' Two people stare at numerous large featureless blocks across the Avon River. One says 'Those buildings look pretty ugly' and the other points out that they are 'just the piles'. Context: The Christchurch City Council is moving to impose urban-design etiquette and avert architectural mistakes such as clashing with the neighbours, glaring corporate colours and the long, blank walls common to most suburban shopping malls. The proposed rules will be overseen by an urban-design panel of four experts drawn from a pool of 12 architects, designers, planners and valuers. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows a daffodil blooming in an earthquake fissure with the wrecked buildings of Christchurch in the background. Context: September 4th is the anniversary of the first quake. Many people in Christchurch are still living in houses that may yet be red stickered (condemned) and many city buildings are still out of bounds, either condemned to destruction or rebuilt after the earthquakes of September 4th 2010 and February 22nd and June 13th 2011. But the return of spring maybe brings a sense of encouragement and hope. Title provided by librarian Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A woman in a burqa walks out of the 'Church of the Multi-denominations'. The church has a steeple and an onion dome. Context: The cartoonist says that the cartoon was drawn for a satirical piece about the rebuilding of Christchurch. Because of the number of churches damaged, including the Anglican cathedral, The cartoon suggests that there should just build one massive church on the AMI stadium site that all religions can use on their particular day....spires would be raised and lowered etc. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text across the top of the cartoon reads 'always design in context' There is a globe, small in the context, with a little message reading 'you are here' pointing, perhaps, to New Zealand or even more specifically, Christchurch; the globe is being threatened from all sides by forces of nature represented by the hand of god reaching out of clouds. Context - the Christchurch earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011 and the idea that buildings must be designed in the context of their environment - NZ being earthquake-prone. Perhaps also the idea of 'design in context' in a broader sense. 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).
The cartoon shows the word 'survivors' in very large print which fades out towards the end of the word. A second version is the same as the first but has the text 'Search called off' in the top left corner. A third version shows the word 'survivors' against a background of the ruined Christchurch Cathedral. Context - The moment when it was realized that no more people could have survived the Christchurch of 22 February 2011. To date there have been about 165 confirmed dead but there are more bodies still trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings. Three versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 3 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).
Text reads 'What??... Is it another quake?.. No, it's just Gerry Brownlee rushing the CERA bill through'. The cartoon shows the huge back of Minister for Christchurch Recovery Gerry Brownlee moving energetically and forcefully to get the CERA bill past its third reading. Context - The bill establishes the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera) and empowers it to lead reconstruction efforts in Christchurch. It gives Cera specific powers to get information from any source, to requisition and build on land and to carry out demolitions. It can also take over local authorities if they are not working effectively on recovery work. Quantity: 1 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).
Astrologer Ken Ring sits at his desk in his study surrounded by ancient scrolls and alchemical instruments; three people stand nearby awaiting advice. Ken Ring says 'Well, predicting a once-in-a-million year movement of tectonic plates is one thing... but predicting when officials will understand the plight of companies affected by it...' Context - Business people in Christchurch in the weeks following the earthquake are becoming increasingly frustrated at their inability to gain access to premises that have been made out of bounds because of potential danger. This has resulted in protests in which police physically intervened when several protesters went inside the cordon. Colour and black and white versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
A man representing New Zealand reads a newspaper whose headline is ''Quake may cost insurance co's up to $16B'. Above him is an enormous mosquito that represents 'increased premiums' and that is about to suck the blood out of him; it casts a huge menacing shadow in which the man stands. Context - Insurance companies have experienced massive losses after the Canterbury earthquake. This may ultimately result in higher premiums as insurance companies try to recoup from their loss. According to Chris Ryan, Insurance Council chief executive, "The quake would probably result in foreign reinsurance companies increasing the premiums they charged local insurers." (Stuff 9 Sep 2010) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text reads 'Could the wrecking ball be used on structures outside Christchurch?' The cartoon shows Minister for the Reconstruction of Christchurch Gerry Brownlee as the wrecking ball on a crane; he says 'let the fun begin'. To one side is a large house crowded with people which represents 'the welfare state' and is surrounded by a barrier on which are printed the words 'Fiscal emergency'. Context - Gerry Brownlee is seen by many as rather too quick to demolish heritage buildings in his rush to rebuild Christchurch. The wrecking ball idea also suggests that the National government is likely to wreck the welfare state in its efforts to sort out economic problems. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A rescue worker carries the dead body of a woman out of the crumbled remains of a building. Nearby is a copy of the 'Building Code'. Context - there are questions being asked about whether some of the buildings that collapsed too readily in the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011 had been subject to stringent enough building code regulations. The Department of Building and Housing said the vertical shaking in the central business district was both extreme and unusual and early indications suggest it was much more violent than designed for in the building code standards which are based on the kind of shaking expected to happen every 500 years. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
PM John Key sits at a large desk in a very large chair looking disconcerted as a messenger says 'after your display in the charity match - John Wright wants you on standby for India. Context - The charity match for Christchurch played at the Basin reserve on Sunday 9 March 2011. The prime minister played along with actors Russell Crowe and James Nesbitt, who were opposing coaches with the match being refereed by Ian McKellen in Sunday's match starting at 4pm. Key will face an over from the Australian spin king during the innings break at the Basin, which Cricket Wellington expects could sell out as early as today. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows a part of Christchurch with a great earthquake fissure running through it. In the fissure are dozens of eyes shining in the dark and people struggle to clamber out. A sign reads 'The Orange Zone. No fun - no parties - Come in and wait for nothing to happen!' Context: The 'Orange Zone' makes a wordplay on 'fanzone' the play spaces for Rugby World Cup revellers. The Orange Zone in Christchurch is the area where as yet decisions still have not been made about the fate of the houses in it. These people feel as though they are in limbo, unable to make decisions about their lives and homes. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A small boy proudly tells his father 'Next month our class is donating all our pocket money to the quake fund'. His father, who is sitting in an armchair reading a newspaper with a headline that says 'Brownlee lavishes top dollar pay on quake panel' is so furious that steam pours out of his head. Context - The public has been very generous with donations to victims of the Christchurch earthquakes. Questions are now being asked about the Christchurch City Council's handling of consultants' contracts (to do with the rebuilding of the city after the earthquakes). City councillors have been questioning the council's awarding of more than $2.8 million of contracts to consultants. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Finance Minister Bill English holds a large axe that represents the 'budget' and says 'I wanted to retrieve all my spending tools, but, sadly, with allotted time short, I could only grab this!..' He is standing outside the barrier that surrounds the Christchurch CBD. Context - The Christchurch central business district has been largely out of bounds to anyone but those dealing with the after-effects of the earthquake of February 22 but business owners have been allowed restricted access to retrieve gear and belongings. The 2011 budget looks as though it will be focused on paring everything down because of the sad state of New Zealand's economy at present (made worse by the need to rebuild Christchurch), hence the axe. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A motion-blurred photograph of houses, with the Port Hills in the background. The photographer comments, "This I hope gives you a feel of what it feels like in an earthquake. When you spend your whole life thinking that you and your home are built on solid ground, it can be quite a shock when you find it is not. You can feel the house shaking like a dog with a toy, rising up violently underneath you or the most gentle form which is when the ground moves gently like a wave moving under a rowing boat. It is not just the movement, you often get a rumbling sound which can precede a violent shake or can result in no movement at all. This means that some vehicles can sound like the rumbling initially and in the early days would get your heart racing. Another form of stress is when big excavators as heavy as a tank move as you can feel the ground shake from streets away, but you do not always hear the engine. For most of us the problem when the shaking starts, is wondering if this is the start of an extremely violent earthquake or will it peter out".
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).
The cartoon shows Prime Minister John Key as a surgeon in a blood-spattered white coat; he has just created a Frankenstein monster which has resulted in the Minister for Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee and Mayor of Christchurch Bob Parker joined together in a single body named 'CERA". Gerry Brownlee clutches a huge spiked mallet and Bob Parker a paintbrush. Context - a new bill is being rushed through parliament to establish the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera); it empowers it to lead reconstruction efforts in Christchurch. It gives Cera specific powers to get information from any source, to requisition and build on land and to carry out demolitions. It can also take over local authorities if they are not working effectively on recovery work. The monster suggests distinctly differing philosophies on how the work of rebuilding Christchurch should proceed. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).