Gordon Minhinnick
Sir Gordon Edward George Minhinnick (13 June 1902 – 19 February 1992) was a New Zealand cartoonist. He was born in Torpoint, Cornwall, England, educated at Kelly College, Devon, and left for New Zealand in 1921 where he studied architecture for four years. In 1926 he joined the New Zealand Free Lance as cartoonist, but soon transferred to the Christchurch Sun and thence to the Auckland Sun.
Also recorded as Gordon Edward George Minhinnick · Sir Gordon Edward George Minhinnick
Gordon Minhinnick
Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections T3690 · CC BY 4.0
- Born
- 1902 · Torpoint.
- Died
- 1992 · Auckland.
- Nationality
- New Zealand
- Occupation
- cartoonist
- Education
- Kelly College
- Honours
- Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire · Officer of the Order of the British Empire
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Sir Gordon Edward George Minhinnick (13 June 1902 – 19 February 1992) was a New Zealand cartoonist. He was born in Torpoint, Cornwall, England, educated at Kelly College, Devon, and left for New Zealand in 1921 where he studied architecture for four years. In 1926 he joined the New Zealand Free Lance as cartoonist, but soon transferred to the Christchurch Sun and thence to the Auckland Sun.
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wikidata · Q5585571 · wikipedia · Gordon Minhinnick
In this article
Career
Career
He joined the New Zealand Herald as a political cartoonist in 1930 and although he officially retired in 1976, contributed cartoons to the newspaper for more than another decade. In the 1950 King's Birthday Honours, Minhinnick was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and in the 1976 Queen's Birthday Honours he was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire), for services as a cartoonist.
Gordon Minhinnick studied at Kelly College. Work by Gordon Minhinnick is recorded in the collections of Auckland Art Gallery. Distinctions recorded are Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire and Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
Grant (1987) describes Minhinnick as "pre-eminent among New Zealand cartoonists. His work for the country's largest newspaper was widely syndicated and of a consistently high standard; witty rather than barbed, and with a feel for caricature that gave the cartoons an added dimension". Minhinnick was strongly influenced by New Zealand cartoonist David Low, and was offered, but declined, Low's job at the London Evening Standard when Low left the London newspaper in 1949. Minhinnick also taught Les Gibbard (the cartoonist who went on to replace Bill Papas, Low's successor, then at The Guardian) in Auckland during the 1950s. Minhinnick illustrated several popular New Zealand books ("Murphy's Moa", "From N to Z", "Trout at Taupo", "Four Seasons of Country Diary"), and he regularly published collections of his work (such as "The Minhinnick annual", "Min's Sauce" to "Just a Min").
Death
Death
Minhinnick was buried at Purewa Cemetery in the Auckland suburb of Meadowbank.
Sir Gordon and Lady Minhinnick enjoying a cup of tea in the Senior Citizens Hall, Takapuna, during a morning tea for original residents of Takapuna on its 75th jubilee, on 5 October 1988.
Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections T3690
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1902
Gordon Minhinnick born at Torpoint.
1992
Gordon Minhinnick died at Auckland.
Places
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Torpoint.
Birth place
Auckland.
Death place
Where the work is held
Recognition and collections
Gordon Minhinnick received Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire and Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
Literature
Scholarly footprint
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Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.38931. 8 June 1950. 2814.
- 2.46921. 12 June 1976. 8055. yes.
- 3.Grant, Ian: "The Unauthorized Version - A Cartoon History of New Zealand 1840-1987", 2nd ed., pages 134-135. David Bateman Ltd, 1987.
- 4.Pat Lawlor: "Murphy’s moa and other Xmas sketches", illustrated by Gordon Minhinnick and Fred Alexander, Simpson & Williams - Christchurch, N.Z., 1936.
- 5.C.V. Smith: "From N to Z - a humorous survey of New Zealand", illustrated by G.E. Minhinnick, Hicks Smith & Wright, 1947.
- 6.O.S. Hintz: "Trout at Taupo", illustrated by G.E. Minhinnick, Max Reinhardt - London, 1964.
- 7.E.V. Sale: "Four seasons of Country Diary", illustrated by Sir Gordon Minhinnick, Reed - Wellington, N.Z., 1982.
- 8.G.E. Minhinnick: "The Minhinnick annual : a selection of cartoons from the New Zealand herald and the Auckland weekly news, by Minhinnick", Wilson & Horton - Auckland, N.Z., 1933.
- 9.G.E. Minhinnick: "Min’s sauce : cartoons from the N.Z. Herald 1970-1976, by Minhinnick", Wilson & Horton - Auckland, N.Z., 1976
- 10.G.E. Minhinnick: "Just a Min : cartoons from the New Zealand herald, by Minhinnick", Wilson & Horton - Auckland, N.Z., 1983.
- 11.Purewa Trust Board. Notable graves.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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