Balloons and a sign advertising a garage sale hang from a fence. The photographer comments, "Today, 23/7/2011 the Bexley community in Christchurch got together and held a Bexley wide garage sale. You could pick up a map of the garage sales in Arncliffe St, which meant that people could find all the garage sales even if they were on the back sections. People got together with close neighbours to hold joint Garage Sales. In the area where the garage sales were held all the homes have been 'written off' by the government, as the land on which they sit is too damaged by the Christchurch earthquakes to repair. In places it looked more like a ships graveyard with the hulls of the houses sinking lopsidedly into the sand. Unfortunately for nearly everyone in the red zone they cannot rebuild a new home as sections to build on start now around $2,000 and the government is not paying them enough to buy a plot of land and build a new home. The choices for Bexley residents in most cases is to rent, buy a house at least a few years old or move to Australia to start again. I was told that up to 80% could be off to Oz".
Text reads 'Bad news for Christchurch playing fields'. On the left is a man wearing the Canterbury colours and carrying a flag; he looks most upset about the 'AMI Stadium' being red stickered. On the right is a woman of the night in fishnet stockings and a very short skirt who looks very upset as she hears that 'Manchester Street' has been red stickered. The little Evans man in the corner says 'Red light, red carded, from the red zone'. Context - The AMI Stadium was supposed to be the venue for the Rugby World Cup in Christchurch - a decision made on 16 March was made that Christchurch was not in a position to host the RWC. With Manchester St on the city side of Bealey Ave cordoned off, street workers have been working from the residential area between Bealey and Purchas St. and residents are furious. Colour and black and white versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows three 'Redzone Girls'. The first wears a green tshirt and wears a green 'no restriction' label, the second wears a yellow tshirt and has a yellow 'Limited access' label and the third wears a red tshirt and has a red label that reads 'munted'; she also has a red and white barrier around her. The second and third of the 'girls' are in an increasing state of decrepitude. Behind them is a crumbling brick wall. Context - Christchurch prostitutes aren't letting natural disaster prevent them from plying their trade on the streets despite the dangers of aftershocks in the city. NZPC's Christchurch regional co-ordinator, Anna Reed, said it was a concern sex workers were standing in the shadow of potentially unsafe buildings as the city was shaken by aftershocks, but said the shattered CBD had "left them with no outlet". Christchurch residents are up in arms about the number of prostitutes working in their local neighbourhoods because their usual work areas are out of bounds in the 'red zone'. (Stuff 25 February 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows Christchurch obscured by ash. Text reads 'Christchurch recovery package' and below are the words 'Cash cloud'. Context - Beginning on the 6th of June the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano has been erupting for more than a week. Drifting ash clouds have been interupting flights. On Thursday 23 June Prime Minister John Key, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and representatives from engineering consultants Tonkin & Taylor announced the first part of the Government's long-awaited land report that revealed the fate of up to 5000 quake-damaged homes. These homes were in the 'red zone'. But 10,500 owners in the orange zone were left in limbo, with their properties requiring further assessment. One of the options presented to residents in the red zone, ideal for people with replacement policies, was the government bought your land, and you dealt directly with your insurers about your house. However they got a shock when insurers told them they won't replace their homes, they'll only repair them, even though they're earmarked for certain demolition. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).