Aspects of Christchurch life after the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, modelled on acts performed at the Buskers' Festival being held in Christchurch. Include `Silt walking'through liquefaction; 'Orange zone', representing the paralysis of homeowners whose properties were classified as 'orange', or of undecided status; 'Jugglers "Marryatt" and "Red Zone"': the Christchurch CEO, Tony Marryatt, juggles with money, his large pay rise, while the red-zoned householder juggles with unattractive options; 'The boy [CBD] with red tape all over him', referring to the cordon which was strangling the Central Business District; the columnist Joe Bennett with his dog, refusing to move from his house in Lyttelton, a cause celebre of resistance to the earthquake authorities in those days. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Two men chat on a beach about what the new year will bring. Out at sea is the container ship 'Rena' in two halves and the rain pours down. Context: 2011 was a year of disasters in New Zealand with new earthquakes in Christchurch and the 'Rena' running aground on the Astrolabe Reef off the Tauranga coast. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A louse labelled, Insurance companies, is shown eating something labelled, Huge premium hikes. A definition of the louse as a scavenger and a parasite is given below. Context: Insurance premiums rose New Zealand wide following the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury Earthquakes Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Chief executive of the Christchurch City Council, Tony Marryatt, has announced he has turned down a controversial $68,000 pay rise. The pay rise is particularly controversial in the face of widespread hardship in Christchurch because of the earthquakes that began in September 2010 and continue still. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows a mobile CBD (central business district) which is mounted on tractor tracks and will be great for dodging aftershocks. Refers to problems and questions about the rebuilding of the Christchurch CBD after the earthquakes and while aftershocks continue. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A study by the Department of Labour shows 24,000 extra workers will be needed to complete the rebuild of Christchurch. The workers to be housed at Burnham or on a ship in Lyttelton, there are so many advantages to this scheme that the man in the cartoon decides it cannot possibly work. Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows the word 'Christchurch' fractured by earthquake. Text above reads 'The new tear(s)'. A second version has the text in the singular 'The new tear'. Context: In spite of Christchurch's great hopes for a new year without earthquakes, there have been numerous quakes and aftershocks. A wordplay on 'new year' and 'new tear' - that is weeping with fear and dismay. Two versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
Shows a new warning system in Christchurch that consists of the heads of Gerry Brownlee, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister, the Mayor of Christchurch Bob Parker and CERA CEO Roger Sutton. Each bellows his particular mantra. Context: Christchurch's new tsunami warning system will be tested on Sunday 22 July at 11am for one to two minutes. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows a fish wondering about the difference between an insurer delaying earthquake-damage settlements and a scavenging groper. Context: refers to the unacceptable and hugely damaging delays in the provision of earthquake damage settlements by insurance companies after the Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows a man representing Christchurch holding aloft the words 'belief', 'optimism' and 'faith' on a plate. Refers to the blueprint for central Christchurch developed by the Christchurch Central Development Unit, which was unveiled on 30 July 2012. 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).
A container labelled 'Chch East residents' has landed on the far side of the planet Mars. Others have landed or are descending. People in space suits exit the containers. One of them shakes hands with a green Martian commenting to him that the ground there is solid, it has nice views and "... the locals are a lot less alien than the insurance agents back home". Cartoon published when NASA's Curiosity rover landed on Mars on 5 August 2012. At this time there there was public debate over insurance claims by earthquake survivors in Christchurch's eastern suburbs. Title taken from item. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s). Processing information: Record title, scope and contents and note fields were updated in June 2025 as part of reparative description work. Details available on request.
Shows a aerial representation of Christchurch's eastern suburbs with the course of the Avon River. The new river course spells the word 'munted'. 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).
Shows Christchurch's Anglican cathedral receiving extensive treatment including blood, ambulances, scaffold and signs reading 'save!' In the background Christchurch's Catholic Cathedral says it wants its share of attention as well. Context: The focus of repairing the Christchurch Anglican cathedral appeared to draw focus and resources from the equally historic and damaged Catholic Cathedral. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Under the caption, young people carrying their baggage flutter into the air, away from Canterbury and toward 'Oz'. In September GNS Earth Sciences reported that after the earthquakes, the Greendale and associated faults were still moving as they settled into a new configuration. At the same time the young were leaving Canterbury (and New Zealand) for a better future in Australia. The population of New Zealand was moving into a new configuration. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A worried Hekia Parata, Minister of Education, tells John Key, the Prime Minister, that schools in Canterbury are resisting being merged. John Key replies that the government will go through a 'consultation process' and then 'do what we like'. However the schools are claiming marae status and thus protection under the Treaty of Waitangi. The 'Hui report' which the Prime Minister is holding confirms this fear. The Ministry of Education, given the excuse of the Canterbury earthquakes, announced that many schools there will be merged or closed. Threatened schools, particularly the two Maori language schools, lodged complaints with the Waitangi Tribunal. 'Hui reports' refers to the claims and resulting hui over the water rights of the proposed partial privatisation of state assets. Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
On the second anniversary of the 2010 earthquake Canterbury weeps. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Under the caption 'Best value for money?' is a football stadium displaying a red cross. From within a voice proclaims the advantages of having a combined covered stadium, hospital and blood bank. Under CERA, the Christchurch Central Development Unit had planned for a covered sports stadium, with attached facilities and shops as one of the key sites in the Christchurch rebuild after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. The 'blood bin' refers to the recent practice in rugby of sending off players with flesh wounds. There were also plans for a new hospital. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows huge mosquitoes attacking a man. Context: It could be that there is a larger population of mosquitoes in Christchurch at the moment because of stagnant areas left by the earthquakes. And it could be that a new mosquito species may be causing Cantabrians to suffer bad reactions to bites. The species is known as the striped mosquito, or Aedes notscriptus. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows Minister for Earthquake Recovery, Gerry Brownlee, telling a Christchurch couple that NZ on Air is funding a six part television drama about the Christchurch earthquakes. Context: the series will be directed by Gaylene Preston. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Offers new lyrics to familiar Christmas carols based on current events in Christchurch, New Zealand. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Ruamoko, the Earthquake God, stirs in his bed, and with a sudden yawn, wonders if it is time to awake again. Above him Christchurch City trembles. On 15 May 2012, after several months of comparatively small quakes, a 4.5 Richter Scale earthquake was registered only 10 km East of Christchurch. Quake-weary Christchurch citizens feared that another large earthquake was on its way. 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).
Shows Minister for Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee delighted with his plan to rebuild Christchurch and to have it paid for buy the PM's casino. Context: Refers to the Christchurch Central Development Unit that Minister for Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee has put in place. Refers also to the very controversial deal that Prime Minister John Key has made with Auckland's SkyCity to the effect that SkyCity will pay the full construction cost of a new convention centre - estimated at $350 million, in return for being allowed to add more gaming tables and machines, and extending its licence beyond 2021. Colour and black and white versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
Shows a huge glass bell representing a 'Cone of silence' over the City Council. Context: Refers to ructions in the City Council. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows a helicopter spray painting Christchurch with the Canterbury colours of black and red. Someone in the helicopter yells that 'it's gotta be better than tint of TC3'. Context: Probably refers to the apology by Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee for offending Christchurch's TC3 residents after saying he was 'sick and tired' of their moaning. TC3 means 'technical category 3'. Land classified TC3 is the mostly badly quake-damaged considered economically repairable. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows a couple (representing the suburbs) under a large blue umbrella (representing the Christchurch Blueprint) in a rain storm. Refers to the blueprint for central Christchurch developed by the Christchurch Central Development Unit, which was unveiled on 30 July 2012. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Depicts spoof poster of new Zealand television series 'Hope and Wire' starring American actors as Bob Parker, Christchurch Mayor, Gerry Brownlee, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister, Roger Sutton, CERA CEO, Andrew Holden, Editor The Press. Context: a six part television series will be set in Christchurch in the aftermath of the earthquakes (Stuff 11 September 2012). Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Shows two overseas backpackers looking at a man reading the newspaper while in a portaloo in Christchurch. Context: Travel publication Lonely Planet placed Christchurch at number six on its list of Top 10 Cities for 2013 (Scoop 22 October 2012). Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).