NZHistory, New Zealand history online - cartoon

Captain Hall-Thompson of HMS Philomel

This cartoon from the Observer (17 October 1914) depicts Captain Percival Hall-Thompson, naval adviser to the New Zealand government. Hall-Thompson also served as captain of New Zealand's first naval ship, HMS Philomel, which is depicted at the bottom of the cartoon.

Read biography of Percival Hall-Thompson

Credit:

Observer, 17 October 1914. Available to view on Paperspast.

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hms philomel

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royal navy

ww1

percival hall-thompson

Los Angeles Olympics cartoon

This cartoon shows a happy kiwi walking away with a large slice of Olympic cake. It refers to New Zealand’s staggering medal haul at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics - eight gold, one silver and two bronze. In finishing eighth on the medal table New Zealand came in six places ahead of its trans-Tasman sporting rival, Australia. This remains New Zealand’s most successful performance at the summer Olympics.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: B-145-060
Cartoon by Eric Heath

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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1980s

olympics

cartoon

NZRFU injunction cartoon

Public protests and calls for the 1985 All Black tour of South Africa to be cancelled fell on deaf ears at rugby union HQ. In May, Auckland lawyers and ‘grass roots rugby players’ Patrick Finnegan and Philip Recordon took the New Zealand Rugby Football Union to court. Arguing that it was in breach of its constitution, which promised to ‘promote, foster and develop the game’, they sought an injunction to stop the tour proceeding. This was not initially granted, but the plaintiffs were granted leave to test an aspect of their case in the High Court. On 13 July Justice Casey granted an interim injunction in favour of the plaintiffs. With the All Blacks due to leave within days, the NZRFU had no option but to cancel the tour.

The controversy stirred up memories and divisions formed during the 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand. The sequel to the injunction was the 1986 Cavaliers rugby tour of South Africa.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: DCDL-0024929
Cartoon by James Robert Lynch

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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Falklands War cartoon

Prime Minister Robert Muldoon was in Britain when the Falklands War broke out in early 1982. Declaring that ‘New Zealand would back Britain all the way’, he compared Falkland Islanders with New Zealanders as people living ‘at the end of the line’ who knew ‘the feeling of isolation’.

This cartoon published in New Zealand Truth shows the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Margaret Thatcher – as Britannia – preparing for a conflict with the ‘Argentine Bull’, which is standing on a very small island. A bulldog personifying Muldoon is barking up the ‘wrong tree’ of ‘N.Z. native opinion’.

Many New Zealanders did not agree with Muldoon’s unquestioning support of Britain’s military aims. However, his primary motive may have been a desire to bolster New Zealand’s position in trade negotiations with Britain. In the event, New Zealand’s only contribution to the Falklands War was to relieve a vessel of the Royal Navy’s Task Group in the Indian Ocean so that it could be sent to the South Atlantic.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-317-2-002
Cartoon by William George Picton Wrathall

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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False Armistice Day cartoon

A series of cartoons offering a humorous take on activities during the false armistice celebrations.

Credit:

New Zealand Free Lance, 14 November 1918. (PapersPast)

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armistice

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Economic nationalism cartoon, 1933

This 1933 cartoon reflected the New Zealand Legion's belief in economic nationalism and self-sufficiency. It hoped to achieve this aim via a bigger domestic market for New Zealand produce.

Credit:

National Opinion, 1, 2, 24 August 1933, p.4.

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Begg Plan cartoon

'A short way with elephants', 1933. The 'Begg Plan', which proposed trading New Zealand's debt to Britain for the latter's surplus unemployed, proved incredibly divisive among New Zealand Legion members.

Credit:

National Opinion, 1, 6, 19 October 1933, p.4.

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cartoon

new zealand legion

robert begg

New Zealand Legion cartoon

‘Caesar's dilemma’, 1933. The New Zealand Legion was divided over many of its policies. The 'Begg Plan', which suggested trading New Zealand's debt to Britain for the latter's surplus unemployed, led the Dunedin Divisional Council to resign en masse.

Credit:

Auckland Star, 22 September 1933

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cartoon

new zealand legion

politics

NZ under control of Tooley Street cartoon

During the Depression the conspiratorial belief in a secret cabal of international financiers controlling the world's economic fate became very popular. Since New Zealand exports and British capital both passed through Tooley Street in London, its financiers came to symbolise these beliefs.

Credit:

National Opinion, 1, 1, 10 August 1933, p.4

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