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).
The cartoon depicts the Minister of Earthquakes Gerry Brownlee, with a portaloo in place of a head. He holds in his hand a document which reads 'Govt appointed quake panel (Shipley etc) paid twice normal fees: $1000 - 1400 daily'. A voice from inside the toilet says 'It's because they're high calibre people!' Context: Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee lobbied his colleagues to pay a Government-appointed panel more than twice the recommended rate because he claimed they would not do it for less - even though he never asked them. On Mr Brownlee's advice, the Cabinet more than doubled the pay rates for the panel from the recommended fees, which was a daily rate of $360 to $655 for the panel chairman and $270 to $415 for panel members. The Cabinet increased this to $1400 a day for the chairman and $1000 a day for the other members. (NZ Herald, 9 August 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).
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 title reads 'Ellerslie Flower Show to return to Christchurch...' Below are nine cameos showing 'sinking violets', 'cracked chrysanthemums', 'pooey perrenials', 'rubble roses', 'portaloo poppies', 'munted marigolds', 'knackered natives', the 'lily of liquefaction' and 'wearable exhibits' which shows a woman wearing a toilet roll and carrying a spade. Context: The next Ellerslie International Flower Show will be staged in North Hagley Park from 7-11 March 2012. Following cancellation of the 2011 Show after the 22 February earthquake, Christchurch City Council has confirmed that the citys premier garden show will go ahead next year in the same venue as previous years. (http://www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz/) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text reads 'Latest Christchurch East band' The name of the band is 'The Silty Stones' and the band sings 'We can't get no... sa-tis-faction! 'Cos we got more li-qui-faction! And we cry, and we cry, and we try to get by We can't get no sa-tis-faction!' The band are cleaning up the latest liquefaction from around a house and are using their tools as musical instruments. Context: there was a 4.9 magnitude aftershock in Canterbury on December 26th (Boxing Day 2011) The song is a take-off of the 'Rolling Stones' song 'We can't get no satisfaction'. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A man sits at a table reading a C.C.C. (Christchurch City Council) report with the title 'Where your rates go!' He says 'Rubbish collection sewer roads squanderings bail outs' Context - After the Christchurch earthquake of 4 September 2010 rates have been of particular concern to residents which means people are sensitive to any possibility of squandering. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows the hands of two people joined in mutual despair and kindness. One represents 'Christchurch' and the other the 'Pike River Mine'. Context - the 7.1 earthquake on 4 September 2010 in Christchurch in which there was a lot of damage but no deaths, the Pike River Mine disaster which occurred on the West Coast on 19 November 2010 and caused the deaths of 29 coal miners and now on 22 February 2011 a 6.3 magnitude earthquake 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. The reason the apparently lesser magnitude quake caused more destruction is because it was very shallow, was in the middle of the day and struck very close to the centre of the city. Colour and black and white versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
Prime Minister John Key drives a tractor to which is attached a crane and a huge demolition ball in the shape of MP Gerry Brownlee's head; the ball smashes against a historic building bringing stone pediments down. Context - Gerry Brownlee, who is Earthquake Recovery Minister, has caused a stir by suggesting that if he had his way some of Christchurch's older buildings would be "down tomorrow". He also said the price of saving some historic buildings badly damaged in the February 22 earthquake was too high. People had died in the quake because of attempts to save historic buildings badly damaged in the September 4 quake. Brownlee said he had no regrets despite the stir his comments caused - but he was annoyed by suggestions the Cathedral and Riccarton House were among buildings he thought should be bowled. He believed those buildings should be saved, and they would be. "I'm not a philistine; I was chairman of the trust that actually saved Riccarton House from the bulldozers in 1990. "I understand conservation architecture very well and I do have an appreciation of heritage buildings." Original cartoon held at A-474-048 Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The title is 'Gambling on the rise in Christchurch'. Several vignettes show two men running in the 'Porta-loo stakes (runs)'; people betting on the 'size of the next shake'; people betting on 'who will have the last chimney standing'; a man sitting over a pot on a little gas ring wondering 'How long will it take to boil a 3 minute egg... when it's minus 10 in the kitchen'; someone in a car wondering 'Whose street can wipe out the most engine sumps'; and someone wondering 'Which power company will be first to put people before profits'. Context: The way of things following the earthquakes of September 4 2010, 22 February 2011 and 13 June 2011. The Problem Gambling Foundation says it is concerned more Christchurch people are turning to gambling to combat stress from earthquakes. It says spending on pokie machines in Christchurch has risen by almost $4 million, going against a downward national trend. The foundation says the data released by the Department of Internal Affairs shows spending on gaming machines rose by more than $3,800,000 in Christchurch city to almost $23 million. (Radio NZ News 26 July 2011) Colour and black and white versions available Quantity: 2 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).
Shows two visitors to Christchurch who can enjoy the excitement of the danger of earthquakes without car bombings. Context: refers to the Christchurch earthquakes and continuing aftershocks. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows a desperate man representing 'Christchurch' who is clutching the end of a broken plank that protrudes from a crumbling cliff-face. He says 'Who said we're living ON the edge?!' Context - the man is suggesting that they are not On the edge but OVER it. Refers to the continuing hardships facing many Christchurch residents as earthquakes and aftershocks continue and many face large financial losses because of insurance problems. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon shows the 'CCC Office' (Christchurch City Council) as a small ramshackle wooden building in a desert; bits of animal skeleton lie around and there are saguaro cactus and tumbleweed. A cowboy has arrived and asks 'So... Can I speak to the Deputy, Deputy, Deputy, Assistant Sheriff?' Context - A reference to layers of officialdom in Christchurch as the city struggles to rebuild itself as well as many councillors being away on holiday while the quake problems continue. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Three people stand looking down at a small model of the 'Christchurch CBD'. One of the people says 'Love the safer low-rise plan What's the scale?' A second man says 'Scale? Er this is the actual size!' Context: Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has dedicated the draft plan for a new-look Christchurch CBD to those lost in the February earthquake. The CBD will be about a quarter of its original size under the draft plan which was unanimously adopted by the council today. (TVNZ 11 August 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A rather overweight and unattractive man has dressed up as a lady of the night and is pulling on a yellow wig in her Rachel Hunter disguise. She says 'Maybe NOW they'll let me into the Red Zone!' and the woman who has given her the disguise says 'It won't happen overnight... but it WILL happen!' Context - Businessmen and shopkeepers are becoming frustrated at not being allowed into the Red Zone to take up the businesses again. Pretending to be a prostitute might solve the problem. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Two workmen in hard hats stand amongst the rubble of Christchurch looking askance as the Dalai Lama beams and says 'You do great work, on behalf of mankind, I express great platitude...' One of the workmen holds a newspaper with a heading that reads 'Dalai Lama's quake message: think positive'. Context - The Dalai Lama visited the quake-hit city for two days in early June. He also sent a letter of condolence to Prime Minister John Key after the February 22 earthquake. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
In the first frame is an 'Emergency kit for national disaster' which is a bin full of disaster supplies like canned food, torch etc. In the second frame there is an 'Emergency kit for economic disaster...' - a bin containing a 'One way ticket to OZ'. Context - The national distaster kit is very relevant after the two earthquakes and numerous aftershocks in Christchurch and increasingly people are moving to Australia in search of jobs and opportunities that seem scarce in New Zealand. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
In six small cameos Prime Minister John Key ponders over things economic and ends up dancing; he says 'I'm bereft of ideas for the economy gambling the lives of our troops in the Afghanistan mess I'm presiding over the biggest budget deficit in our history borrowing $300m a week to cushion our slide into oblivion Using lots of World Cup piffle to distract from the real issues Yet I'm still rating miles higher than Goff so how hopeless is he??? A little man in the last frame comments 'Spoiled for choice eh?' Context - New Zealand's rather dire economic situation made so much worse by the Christchurch earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011, the consistently high poll rating of John Key and the series of disasters suffered by the Labour Party in the run up to the 2011 election in November. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The scene shows a tract of land with a jagged crack running through it. An arm representing the 'Council' reaches out of the crack and points a finger. Someone from the 'Tibetan Community' whose head cannot be seen says 'Surely you can lift finger higher than that?' Context: The Dalai Lama visited Christchurch after the earthquakes but The Dalai Lama's New Zealand representative is accusing the Christchurch City Council of snubbing the spiritual leader during his visit, suggesting ties with China are to blame. In a letter to Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker, New Zealand Tibetan community representative Thuten Kesang said he was disappointed the council "did not lift a finger to help" the Dalai Lama during his visit to the earthquake-hit city in June. Christchurch has a sister-city relationship with the Chinese Gansu Province and Wuhan City. Kesang said he believed this relationship made the council reluctant to engage with the exiled Tibetan leader. (Press - 10 August 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text reads 'One of the many faces of Mother Nature' and the cartoon shows a moon with a seismic graph across it that has taken on the shape of a face. A second version does not have the moon and a third version has the face say 'I have a few faults'. Context - The Christchurch earthquakes. Three versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 3 digital cartoon(s).
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).
The title reads 'Greener square for Christchurch?..' The cartoon depicts the city centre in Christchurch entirely covered with green and there are cows wandering by the stream as well as grazing on the tops of buildings. A man at the top of the green cathedral says 'I can see it really growing on me!' Context: This is a reference to the draft Central City plan under which the Central City will be greener and more attractive. 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).
The three versions of this cartoon show words reading 'rumble' and 'crack' and refer to problems in relationships between the Christchurch City Council and the government about how to manage the rebuilding of Christchurch after the second most damaging earthquake that occured one year ago today (22 February 2011) Quantity: 3 digital cartoon(s).
Two skeletal people sit in armchairs waist-deep in silt. The man is reading the newspaper and says 'The wait's over! The Land Report's due out dear!... DEAR?' He realises that his wife, whose bony hand clutches 'EQC update No. 37', is dead. Context - 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. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Text reads 'Dalai Lama visits Christchurch ostensibly to sympathise with quake-hit residents'. The cartoon shows the Dalai Lama bestowing blessings on a large crowd. In an insert he is seen sitting cross-legged on top of Mount Cook saying 'But off the record I came to look for a quiet spot to retire to!' Context - The Dalai Lama visited the quake-hit city for two days in early June. He also sent a letter of condolence to Prime Minister John Key after the February 22 earthquake. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Two people crawl across a desert littered with animal bones and skulls towards the words 'Land reports' in the distance. The woman says 'Don't get your hopes up! It's probably a mirage!' Context - 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. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A woman stands at the door of the house and wonders why the grass is only half cut. Her husband says 'We can only afford enough petrol to mow half the lawn'. Context is rising petrol prices. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).