PurposeThe purpose of this research is to highlight the role of not-for-profit (NFP) organisations in enhancing disaster preparedness. The authors set out to understand their perspectives and practices in regard to disaster preparedness activities to support people who live precarious lives, especially those who live as single parents who are the least prepared for disasters.Design/methodology/approachThe research draws on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 12 staff members, either in a group setting or individually, from seven NFP organisations, who were located in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) and Kaiapoi in Aotearoa New Zealand. These participants were interviewed eight years after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.FindingsFour key narrative tropes or elements were drawn from across the interviews and were used to structure the research results. These included: “essential” support services for people living precarious lives; assisting people to be prepared; potential to support preparedness with the right materials and relationships; resourcing to supply emergency goods.Originality/valueThis research contributes to disaster risk reduction practices by advocating for ongoing resourcing of NFP groups due to their ability to build a sense of community and trust while working with precarious communities, such as single parents.
We examine the role of business interruption (BI) insurance in business recovery following the Christchurch earthquake in 2011. First, we ask whether BI insurance increases the likelihood of business survival in the immediate (3-6 months) aftermath of a disaster. We find positive but statistically insignificant evidence that those firms that had incurred damage, but were covered by BI insurance, had higher likelihood of survival post-quake compared with those firms that did not have any insurance. For the medium-term (2-3 years) survival of firms, our results show a more explicit role for insurance. Firms with BI insurance experience increased productivity and improved performance following a catastrophe. Furthermore, we find that those organisations that receive prompt and full payments of their claims have a better recovery than those that had protracted or inadequate claims payments, but this difference between the two groups is not statistically significant. We find no statistically significant evidence that the latter group (inadequate payment) did any better than those organisations that had damage but no insurance coverage. In general, our analysis indicates the importance not only of adequate insurance coverage, but also of an insurance system that delivers prompt claim payments. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in 'The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice'. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41288-017-0067-y. The following terms of use apply: https://www.springer.com/gp/open-access/publication-policies/aam-terms-of-use.
The standard way in which disaster damages are measured involves examining separately the number of fatalities, of injuries, of people otherwise affected, and the financial damage that natural disasters cause. Here, we implement a novel way to aggregate these separate measures of disaster impact and apply it to two catastrophic events from 2011: the Christchurch (New Zealand) earthquakes and the Greater Bangkok (Thailand) flood. This new measure, which is similar to the World Health Organization's calculation of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost due to the burden of diseases and injuries, is described in detail in Noy [7]. It allows us to conclude that New Zealand lost 180 thousand lifeyears as a result of the 2011 events, and Thailand lost 2644 thousand lifeyears. In per capita terms, the loss is similar, with both countries losing about 15 days per person due to the 2011 catastrophic events in these two countries. © This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
<b>Ōtautahi-Christchurch faces the future in an enviable position. Compared to other New Zealand cities Christchurch has lower housing costs, less congestion, and a brand-new central city emerging from the rubble of the 2011 earthquakes. ‘Room to Breathe: designing a framework for medium density housing (MDH) in Ōtautahi-Christchurch’ seeks to answer the timely question how can medium density housing assist Ōtautahi-Christchurch to respond to growth in a way that supports a well-functioning urban environment? Using research by design, the argument is made that MDH can be used to support a safe, accessible, and connected urban environment that fosters community, while retaining a level of privacy. This is achieved through designing a neighbourhood concept addressing 3 morphological scales- macro- the city; meso- the neighbourhood; and micro- the home and street. The scales are used to inform a design framework for MDH specific to Ōtautahi-Christchurch, presenting a typological concept that takes full advantage of the benefits higher density living has to offer.</b> Room to Breathe proposes repurposing underutilised areas surrounding existing mass transit infrastructure to provide a concentrated populous who do not solely rely on private vehicles for transport. By considering all morphological scales Room to Breathe provides one suggestion on how MDH could become accepted as part of a well-functioning urban environment.
One cast iron and perspex turret clock dial with two hands. Originally from the tower of the Christchurch railway station building on Moorehouse Avenue, which later became the science education centre Science Alive!
One cast iron and perspex turret clock dial with two hands. Originally from the tower of the Christchurch railway station building on Moorehouse Avenue, which later became the science education centre Science Alive!
A video of Gap Filler setting up for the opening of the Dance-O-Mat's second location at 124 Oxford Terrace.
A video of people dancing at the opening of the Dance-O-Mat's second location at 124 Oxford Terrace.
A video of the opening night of Gap Filler's Cycle-Powered Cinema on 9 Feburary 2012.
A video of Gap Filler setting up for the opening of the Dance-O-Mat's second location at 124 Oxford Terrace.
A video of people dancing at the opening of the Dance-O-Mat's second location at 124 Oxford Terrace.
A photograph of a sofa made out of car tyres and a pallet at Rock on Eastside on the corner of Aldwins Road and Linwood Avenue. Rock on Eastside was a outdoor lounge and art space facilitated by Gap Filler and Youthtown. The sofa was made by students from the University of Canterbury Student Volunteer Army. Painted rocks have been placed in front of the sofa as decoration.
A photograph of students from the University of Canterbury Student Volunteer Army at Rock on Eastside. Rock on Eastside was an outdoor lounge and art space facilitated by Gap Filler and Youthtown. The students helped other students from local high schools to build the site, which was on the corner of Aldwins Road and Linwood Avenue.
A photograph of staff from Abseil Access in the car park outside their office on Quakers Quay in Woolston. The staff are standing next to a trailer full of rocks which they have gathered from the Port Hills. The rocks will be painted and used to define the boundaries of Rock on Eastside, an outdoor lounge and art space on the corner of Linwood Avenue and Aldwins Road.
A photograph of students in Eastgate Mall with a trolley full of painted rocks. The students are participating in a workshop facilitated by Gap Filler and Youthtown where they painted these rocks. The rocks will be used to create Rock on Eastside, an outdoor lounge and art space on the corner of Aldwins Road and Linwood Avenue.
A photograph of students enjoying Rock on Eastside, an outdoor lounge and art space on the corner of Aldwins Road and Linwood Avenue. The students have decorated the site by painting rocks they found throughout Christchurch and laying them out in patterns. There is also furniture made out of pallets in the background and 'Rock on Eastside' has been painted on the wall of a building.
A photograph of children and parents painting rocks for Rock on Eastside on the corner of Linwood Avenue and Aldwins Road. Rock on Eastside was an outdoor lounge and art space facilitated by Gap Filler and Youthtown. The paint was donated by Resene.
A photograph of students participating in a Youthtown workshop at Eastgate Mall. The students are painting rocks for the Rock on Eastside outdoor lounge and art space which is facilitated by Gap Filler and Youthtown. The rocks will be used to create artworks on the site on the corner of Aldwins Road and Linwood Avenue.
A photograph of students enjoying Rock on Eastside, an outdoor lounge and art space on the corner of Aldwins Road and Linwood Avenue. The students have decorated the site by painting rocks they found throughout Christchurch and laying them out in patterns.
Part five of the audio that makes up Gap Filler's 29th project, the Transitional City Audio Tour. This part of the tour begins on Montreal Street near Cranmer Square. It includes commentary on the Cranmer Centre and the Windsor Hotel, two demolished buildings which were on the opposite corners of Armagh and Montreal Streets. The tour then moves down Armagh Street, providing commentary on the Canterbury Provincial Chambers Buildings. When the tour reaches the bridge over the Avon River, it crosses to the other side and follows the river to Gloucester Street where there is commentary on Chancery Lane. The tour then travels up Colombo Street and back to Victoria Square, with commentary on the Queen Victoria and James Cook statues. The tour finishes at the Pallet Pavilion, where it began, on the corner of Kilmore and Durham Streets.
Part four of the audio that makes up Gap Filler's 29th project, the Transitional City Audio Tour. This part of the tour begins in the Re:Start Mall on Cashel Street and includes commentary on the performance Last Day of Mankind at the Bridge of Remembrance. The tour then moves up Oxford Terrace, along the banks of the Avon River, until it reaches Worcester Boulevard. Turning left, it travels down Worcester Boulevard, past the Christchurch Art Gallery, providing commentary on the new and old art in the area, and the Christchurch Arts Centre. Lastly, it moves up Montreal towards Cranmer Square.
Part three of the audio that makes up Gap Filler's 29th project, the Transitional City Audio Tour. This part of the tour begins on Madras Street and includes commentary on the clothing industry in Christchurch before reaching Tuam Street. On Tuam Street, the tour includes commentary on the C1 cafe in the former Post Office building. The tour then moves up High Street to Cashel Street and on to Re:Start Mall.
Part one of the audio that makes up Gap Filler's 29th project, the Transitional City Audio Tour. This part of the tour begins at the Pallet Pavilion on the corner of Kilmore and Durham Streets. It includes commentary on the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the Town Hall, as well as the Captain Cook and Queen Victoria statues in Victoria Square. The tour then moves down Armagh Street to New Regent Street where there is a discussion of Trambiance, a series of sound performances in the Christchurch tram. The tour also includes commentary on the rebuild of New Regent Street and the Isaac Theatre Royal.
Part two of the audio that makes up Gap Filler's 29th project, the Transitional City Audio Tour. This part of the tour begins in Cathedral Square and includes commentary on the proposal for the Convention Centre. The tour then moves down Worcester Street, providing commentary on Hotel 115, the Old Government Building (now the Heritage Hotel), and the Trinity Church on the way. Once the tour reaches Latimer Square, it moves towards Hereford Street and there is commentary on the Green Frame, and the future of Les Mill and Calendar Girls. The tour then moves down Madras Street, passing the Transitional Cathedral and the artwork, 185 Empty Chairs. The tour ends with commentary on the Farmers' Trading Building, the first Farmers' building in Christchurch which was eventually replaced by the IRD Building on Madras Street.
A press release about Gap Filler's 29th project, the Transitional City Audio Tour.
A photograph of several pairs of headphones and MP3 players at Gap Filler's Pallet Pavilion. They are made available to be borrowed by members of the public to use on the Transitional City Audio Tour.
A poster advertising Gap Filler's 29th project, the Transitional City Audio Tour.
A photograph of a person listening to the Transitional City Audio Tour in Victoria Square. In the background is a statue of Captain James Cook.
A photograph of the potato stamps which were created by Jen McBride for Gap Filler's Have a Steak in Your City project. The potato stamps were used to create the poster for the event and to decorate the paper napkins which people used to eat their steak. A number of these paper napkins are in the background of the photograph.
A Squadron 3 Iroquois helicopter refuelling at Hagley park after an aerial tour of Christchurch and Lyttelton.