Kathleen Lonsdale

New Zealand/ Aoteatora

In 1997 Tuku Morgan, a Labour Member of Parliament, used money from the Aotearoa T. V. government-funded enterprise to buy his own clothes including ridiculously-priced underpants. The Press, always ready for a juicy story, highlighted this in its headlines. Over a long period the media hounded Morgan. At one stage he disappeared for a time, reportedly to a tropical Island.  

The underpants climbing the steps of parliament are worn by quilted bodies which represent members of the House.

The flag symbolizes the value the member placed on his personal “ briefs”.

The words are printed straight off the newspaper reflecting the wit of the reporters.

The tropical flowers stand for the tropical island Morgan went to and also for the superficial thinking we often have about important issues in this country.