Cartoons on the Great Depression in Aotearoa New Zealand

A DigitalNZ Story by National Library Services to Schools

A series of cartoons depict the social, political and economic scene of Aotearoa New Zealand during the Great Depression.

social_sciences, history

THE GREAT DEPRESSION

The great depression began internationally with the Wall Street sharemarket collapse of October 1929, although the subsequent downturn was complicated by poor monetary and economic policies in the major financial centres. 

Source: Economic history — Inter-war years and the great depression, Te Ara — The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

CARTOONS ON THE GREAT DEPRESSION IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

Image: Dealing with the Depression cartoon

Dealing with the Depression cartoon

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The great depression, 1932

The great depression, 1932

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Pull together Depression cartoon, 1933

Pull together Depression cartoon, 1933

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Economic nationalism cartoon, 1933

Economic nationalism cartoon, 1933

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Depression, 1928

Depression, 1928

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Mushroom season cartoon, 1933

Mushroom season cartoon, 1933

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Xmas cheer for the unemployed

Xmas cheer for the unemployed

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: 'A gleam of hope' cartoon, 1933

'A gleam of hope' cartoon, 1933

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: NZ under control of Tooley Street  cartoon

NZ under control of Tooley Street cartoon

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

This story was curated and compiled by Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library of New Zealand, Services to Schools staff, April 2022.