Controversial illustrator Garrick Tremain has been stood down after his cartoon mocking the deadly Samoan measles epidemic attracted heavy criticism, including from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

The cartoon, published in the Otago Daily Times (ODT) on Tuesday, depicted two women walking out of a travel agent, with one saying to the other: "I asked, 'What are the least popular spots at the moment?' She said: 'The ones people are picking up in Samoa'."

The Samoan Government has completely shutdown its private sector following the deaths of 60 people there, mostly children. Many people slammed the publication of the cartoon, saying the deaths were not something to joke about.

Hamish McNeilly/Stuff Protesters outside the Otago Daily TImes on Wednesday afternoon.

Newspaper editor Barry Stewart, who published an apology in the Wednesday edition, was visibly upset as nearly 50 protesters – many demanding his and Tremain's resignations – gathered outside the ODT's building in central Dunedin on Wednesday saying "Samoan lives matter".

Stewart read a brief statement saying the cartoon was "insensitive, and I apologise without reservation".

Screenshot of ODT The cartoon by Garrick Tremain which was published in the Otago Daily Times this week.

He said he was embarrassed and the cartoon had tainted the work of his colleagues.

"It was an error, and I am very sorry. We pride ourselves on being a trusted news organisation and in this instance we accept we not only missed the mark, but our initial apology did not go far enough."

Stewart was heckled by one of the protesters. "There are babies dying right now and that's all you can say," one said.

Hamish McNeilly/Stuff Protesters heckled Otago Daily Times editor Barry Stewart over the cartoon.

Stewart said the newspaper's editorial executives were reviewing their policies and would not run cartoons by Tremain while a review was under way.

"I am fully aware these words do not go far enough to heal the hurt we have caused, but I hope it goes some way to show how sorry we are."

Stewart apologised to the Samoan community, and said he would meet with Samoan community leaders on Wednesday afternoon.

RNZ Cartoonist Garrick Tremain, whose latest work was slammed as racist, said "it's not causing any more death". (Interview aired in December 2019)

Ardern said she was "horrified" by the cartoon.

"This is affecting children and babies – it's absolutely horrific, no-one takes it lightly. New Zealand's doing all we can to assist."

Stewart told Stuff the review would be "quick".

HAMISH MCNEILLY/STUFF Otago Daily Times editor Barry Stewart prepares to front those protesting Garrick Tremain's Samoa cartoon

He said he had not seen the apology Tremain posted on his website, but believed it was genuine.

Asked if he signed off the cartoon, he said: "I'm the editor I take responsibility."

Stewart, when asked by Stuff about previous insensitive Tremain cartoons, replied "we've had issues".

Hamish McNeilly/Stuff The Otago Daily Times office in Dunedin has been locked on Wednesday as protesters gather outside following Tuesday's cartoon incident.

Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins, in a letter signed by some other councillors sent to the paper, called out Tremain for his "lack of contrition".

"The reputational damage this causes does neither his employer or our wider community any favours," he said.

"Surely it's time to make room for more inclusive editorial voices on these pages, that punch up rather than down."

Supplied Queenstown cartoonist Garrick Tremain has apologised for the cartoon.

Dunedin City councillor Marie Laufiso said she hoped the review would be thorough, but believed Tremain's services "would be retained".

She wanted to support the Samoan community and meet with Stewart, who she believed delivered a "heartfelt" apology.

Some Dunedin families had lost loved ones in Samoa and the cartoon was deeply insensitive.

Hamish McNeilly/Stuff The Otago Daily Times main newsroom is located on Stuart St, in central Dunedin.

The cartoon was not a reflection on the reporters, but on the editorial judgment of the newspaper, she said.

"Cartoons are supposed to challenge the powerful, not make fun of the powerless."

She had contacted the Human Rights Commission and was prompted to lodge a complaint with the Media Council.

Protester Sina Brown-Davis said she was disgusted by the cartoon, and called the apology "half-baked". She planned to target advertisers if Tremain was not fired.

Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon called the cartoon a "slap in the face" for victims' families.

Tremain published an apology on his website on Wednesday morning, saying the cartoon should not have been put forward for publication and acknowledging "the lack of judgement on my part".

Supplied The apology Garrick Tremain issued an apology on his website for his cartoon referencing the Samoa measles epidemic.

Earlier he spoke to RNZ about the cartoon, but did not issue an apology on air.

He said the cartoon was a simple, lighthearted joke about a travel agent making a stupid comment. But he said he could understand why people were upset by it.

"I can quite understand why it's upset people, yes I can, and in fact, it's a very poor piece of timing for such a cartoon," he said on RNZ.

STUFF Otago Daily Times editor Barry Stewart published an apology on the opinion page on Wednesday.

Tremain said he was "very sorry" to have upset people.

"I've personally apologised to those who've spoken to me for the fact that I've upset them. That was not my intention. But if you think that I should issue an apology to the Samoan nation, well I don't agree with you," he said on RNZ.

Foon said it was "extremely appalling and distasteful" in a post on Facebook.

Screengrab Otago Daily Times editor Barry Stewart appears in a bulletin for The South Today.

"It shows very poor judgment by the cartoonist and those involved in publishing it.

"To make fun of the fatal measles epidemic that has claimed the lives of many innocent children is a slap in the face to grieving families in Samoa, here and overseas. It is also disrespectful to New Zealand citizens of Samoan heritage."

Foon said he was "very embarrassed" the cartoon originated in New Zealand.

SUPPLIED New Zealand Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon says the cartoon was "extremely appalling and distasteful".

Journalist John Campbell spoke out on Twitter, calling the cartoon "terrible".

"What a shameful assault on the cartoonist's art – and on empathy, decency, human feeling, and the people of a country with which we're so close," he said in a tweet.

ODT head of video news Tim Miller posted on Twitter, saying the cartoon disappointed reporters and "makes us angry".

"We will do everything we can so this never happens again," he said.

Donate via Unicef here to help get children in Samoa immunised against measles.