Political Cartoons 2009
Cartoon depicts 'The National Extreme Technical Torture Track' which has cyclists attempting to ride from 'the summit' on which stand two politicians over a series of horribly complicated cycling challenges that represent the 'credit squeeze', Sealord job drop off', recession ravine', 'bridge of business doom' etc. Refers to National's attempts to manage New Zealand's economic future during the recession. 6 March, 2009
Castle N-ACT. Overseas private prison companies. Corrections. ACC. Overseas private insurance companies. "I believe in rewarding success"
The Castle N-ACT with two turrets named 'Corrections' and 'ACC' is being 'besieged' by 'Overseas Private Prison Companies', 'Overseas Private Insurance Companies' and 'Finance Companies', but in fact the besiegers are being welcomed to the castle. On top of the third central turret stands John Key being knighted as a reward for his success. On top of the 'Corrections' turret, Corrections Minister, Judith Collins, threatens the Corrections CEO, Barry Matthews, with an axe and on top of the ACC turret ACC Minister, Nick Smith, holds the head of sacked ACC Chair, Ross Wilson, aloft, impaled on a spike. Bags of money are heaped in the castle. Refers to National's interest in using private prison and insurance companies and propping up finance companies during the recession which in effect seems to indicate a general downgrading in public services.
14 March 2009
A businessman has fainted in his office after reading about the 2009 budget and the fact that tax cuts promised in the election campaign have been cancelled. A pretty PA tries to comfort him. What particularly shocks him is the notion that the National Party might have lied just get elected. Refers to the cancellation of promised tax cuts mainly because of the recession. 6 May 2009
Shows ACC Minister Nick Smith wearing huge boots that have the words 'creative accounting' on them; he kicks a small car representing ACC to bits and says 'John told me to give the tyres a good kicking'. Refers to the intention of the government to reform ACC and turn it into a profit-making enterprise. 23 October 2009
On one side of a door Prime Minister John Key and Finance Minister Bill English sweat and fret over how credible the 2009 budget sounded to a Standard & Poor's delegation because New Zealand's credit rating is at stake. On the other side of the door two men from Standard & Poor's mop their brows and gradually relax as they too worry about their credibility; papers about 'sub-prime AAA' drop out of the briefcase of one of the men. Refers to the fact that New Zealand's AA+ rating was revised from stable to negative watch by Standard and Poor's in January and it said the future rating would hinge on the Budget. A delegation from the powerful credit rating agency Standard and Poor's received an advance briefing on the Budget. 30 May 2009
The cartoon shows Sue Bradford, the Green MP who recently resigned from parliament after losing a bid for the co-leadership of the Green Party when Jeanette Fitzsimons retired. She is shown in colour while a group of people in silhouette accuse her, saying 'Sue Bradford... you're a hard-working, collaborative, successful high-achiever. Get out!' The suggestion is that it not simple disappointment that caused her to resign but perhaps frustrations caused by the inner workings of the Green Party. Sue Bradford was notably interested in social policy while the Greens focussed heavily on environmental issues.
Cartoon depicts Richard Worth, former Minister of Internal Affairs, riding past the pyramids of Egypt on a camel as he heads into the wilderness. Refers to the sacking of Richard Worth by the Prime Minister John Key because of sexual misdemeanours on top of a number of other questionable pieces of behaviour. 15 June 2009