Political Cartoons 2008
Cartoon depicts a room labelled 'Rich political donor support group' of sad elderly white men sitting in a semi-circle with one saying "I thought my money would buy me love and eternal gratitude". A group of rich political donors sitting in a circle in their support group. One of them is Owen Glenn who is embroiled in the problems around donations given to New Zealand First over which leader, Winston Peters, is being investigated for fraud. Owen Glenn says that he thought his money would buy him love and eternal gratitude. He has been snubbed by Prime Minister, Helen Clark, to whom he has also donated.
Cartoon depicts a bonfire of sticks reading 'surplus'. "stimulate that lot says finance minister Michael Cullen ( holding a flaming torch) to PM Helen Clark. She is dressed as Napoleon and he as a cavalry man. Refers to Labour economic stimulus as a downturn created by the GFC ripples through the New Zealand economy. The incoming National finance minister Bill English must face this.
Key erects a sign 'National's boot camp at the bottom of the cliff to be erected here' as a ambulance drives away from a cliff labelled 'Youth'.
Cartoon depicts the corpse of Roger Douglas emerging from a coffin in an open grave ( Gravestone reads: 'Rogernomics died 1990's' ) sparked by wires to a battery operated by Act Party leader Rodney Hide. Douglas: "If McCain can do it, so can i!" NZListener 20 March 2008 Refers to Republican Senator McCain rcampain for POTUS.
Cartoon depicts Prime Minister, Helen Clark, (Labour) standing beside a sign saying 'Affordable homes' that is on the grass in front of a new house. John Key, (National Party) asks "Where all the fancy hollow columns and smoked-glass windows and big fat sales commissions?. Refers to the Labour Party's new policy to provide affordable homes for first home owners and people on low incomes. Refers to the Italianate style of Key's home and holiday house.
Cartoon depicts a red 'Highcarbonder Turbo' being driven along a road belching out large clouds of gas. The message on the spare wheel that is mounted on the back says 'My other vehicle is a train' and the number plate says 'Labour'. Refers to the problem of offsetting carbon emissions by both the individual and the government. The individual driving the vehicle which is a high carbon emitter tells the world that their other vehicle is the train (Labour has just bought back rail and ferry from Toll Holdings Ltd), thus absolving guilt and offsetting (maybe) their carbon emissions. The Labour Party has the dilemma of sticking to its promise to reduce New Zealand's carbon emissions substantially by introducing the emissions trading scheme but at the same time 2008 is an election year and the cost of living is rising as the economy slows and people want tax breaks.
Cartoon depicts a hideous monster with four heads; the central head is that of new Prime Minister John Key and the other three are those of Pita Sharples co-leader of the Maori Party, Peter Dunne leader of United Future and Rodney Hide leader of ACT. On the ground below the monster is the dead cast-off skin of the five-headed monster they have succeeded. The five-headed monster was the coalition group of former Prime Minister Helen Clark, Peter Dunne, the Maori Party, the Greens, and New Zealand First 12 November 2008
Cartoon depicts blue (right-wing) and red (left) hydra monsters "Yeuch too many heads" says John Key looking at the four heads on his coalition Refers to criticism of coalition governments made by John Key in the election campaign.
2008 asset sale fever ... National Party ministers led by John Key clutching his '100 days list' rush into government "So much to do over, so little time." They are trampling over the rights of workers. Refers to the introduction of the policy that will give businesses with fewer than 20 staff the ability to introduce a three-month trial for new workers. The government is attempting to pass with speed many new policies in their first hundred days in government.
"Woah there Speedy - slow down" cries snail John Key to turtle Helen Clark who is flying a tattered flag reading 'Carbon Trading Scheme'...2008
"Don't look around says National leader John Key to finance minister Bill English both carrying signs labelled 'Less Regulation' & 'Tax Cuts' as global financial system collapses behind them consisting of American banks such as AIG - Lehman Brothers - Merrill Lynch - Fannie Mae - Freddie Mac + greed + Wall Street... 20 September, 2008
Cartoon depicts Winston Peters Minister of Foreign Affairs and leader of NZ First. He holds a large notice that says 'No to China-NZ free trade and says "I would have asked for more baubles." Refers to Winston Peters' ambivalent attitude to New Zealand's free trade deal with China. As Minister of Foreign Affairs he is obliged to support it but at leader of NZ First he is critical, believing that China does better out of it than does New Zealand.