An entry from Gallivanta's blog for 1 May 2013 entitled, "Designed to make me smile".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 2 March 2013 entitled, "Supportive Smiles".
It's Canterbury's annual Cup and Show week. Organisers say the event has extra prominence this year, as the region's been robbed of many major events because of the damage to venues in the September and February earthquakes.
A digitally manipulated image of the word 'Lyttelton' made out of damaged bricks. The photographer comments, "This shows the courage and humour of the earthquake wrecked port of Lyttelton. There is lots of little things that make you smile that the locals and volunteers from around the area have created".
A sign on a fence in Bexley reads "17 19 21. We are all home, smiling, staying positive, looking forward, A.J. included." The photographer comments, "These three neighbour families in the Bexley Christchurch red zone are all great friends. They are so fond of each other that they want to buy a big parcel of land and then build three homes next to each other".
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker smiles smugly from the top of a cliff while Jim Anderton, his chief rival for mayor in the local body elections to be held on 9th October 2010, lands with a bump as the ground on which he was standing, collapses. Refers to the unexpected and advantageous public exposure gained by the incumbent mayor because of the Christchurch earthquake of the 4th September. Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Teddy time: A Whanganui man has sent dozens of teddy bears to Rangiora to be distributed to children affected by the Canterbury earthquake. Ted Cheriton sent the teddies to National MP Kate Wilkinson's office to be distributed. Ms Wilkinson said it was a fantastic gesture. 'I am sure they will be welcome in Kaiapoi and beach settlements where damage from the earthquake has severely affected many families', she said. 'Hopefully these teddies will bring a smile to some young children and cheer them up in what has been a very trying and traumatic time'".
The cartoon shows a row of gold statuettes of Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker smiling and holding a shovel; these are 'The Bob Awards - for supporting roles in Christchurch'. 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. The courage, generosity and 'can do' attitude of the people has been wonderful and Bob Parker himself is showing himself a tireless and cheerful mayor in extraordinary circumstances. Colour and black and white versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).
Surrounded by mud and puddles in Christchurch Prime Minister John Key puts his arm round co-leader of the Maori Party Pita Sharples and smiles happily; behind them is a brand new plastic portaloo. On the ground lies a newspaper with a headline that reads 'Govt. to fund $2m giant RWC plastic waka'. Pita Sharples says 'and to show we're not neglecting our priorities in these austere times, Christchurch will get a new plastic portaloo!' Context - The government has hit back at criticism over a $2 million venue centre in the shape of a waka for the Rugby World Cup (RWC), defending the cost as necessary to host a world-class event. Co-leader of the Maori Party Pita Sharples says the waka will promote Maori culture during the Rugby World Cup and at other events (like the America's Cup). Labour Party MP Shane Jones asks "How can Dr Sharples and Prime Minister John Key actually believe that this expensive indulgence is a positive advertisement for Maori? The truth is they don't but they're both working together in a desperate effort to keep the Maori Party afloat. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).