The Christchurch earthquakes brought to an abrupt halt a process of adaptive reuse and gentrification that was underway in the south eastern corner of the central business district. The retail uses that were a key to the success of this area pre-earthquake could be characterised as small, owner operated, quirky, bohemian, chaotic and relatively low rent. This research reports on the progress of a long term, comprehensive case study that follows the progress of these retailers both before and after the earthquakes. Findings include the immediate post-earthquake intentions to resume business in the same location as soon as possible were thwarted by government imposed cordons of the CBD that were only lifted nearly three years later. But, businesses were resilient and generally reinvented themselves quickly in alternative suburban locations where government “rebuild” restrictions were absent. It remains to be seen if this type of retail will ever return to the CBD as government imposed plans and the rents demanded for retail space in new buildings appear to preclude small owner-operated businesses.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Businesswoman Angel Wu, president of North South Business Incorporated, says members of the mainly Chinese group of businesses and store operators have been rallying around to try to help members hardest hit by the earthquake. She talks of serious suffering for those worst-affected".
The Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre's "Community Earthquake Update" bulletin, published on Friday 29 July 2011.
The "Lyttelton Review" newsletter for 12 March 2012, produced by the Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre.
Provides history, business, community and tourist information. Also includes information relating to the earthquake recovery.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Lincoln Butcher John Davies' business has suffered because of the earthquake".
Business confidence has tumbled to a two-year low blamed mainly on the Christchurch earthquake.
Matthew Carpenter is from the Canterbury Business Recovery Network. Gerry Brownlee is a Christchurch MP.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The Ballantynes department store, open for business on Colombo Street".
An incomplete infographic about access being given to the red zone for home and business owners.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Shipping containers next to a business office complex in Burnside".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Business recovery activity at Donnell's Jewellers on High Street".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Tattooist Zach Hart climbs over the remains of his business in Christchurch".
The exterior of the Chinwag Eathai, with a sign informing the public of its business status.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Tattooist Zach Hart climbs over the remains of his business in Christchurch".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Tattooist Zach Hart climbs over the remains of his business in Christchurch".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Tattooist Zach Hart climbs over the remains of his business in Christchurch".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Tattooist Zach Hart climbs over the remains of his business in Christchurch".
A pdf transcript of Heather Bundy's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Samuel Hope. Transcriber: Josie Hepburn.
A video of an interview with David Stanley, Director of Canterbury Biltong, about the company's experiences after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. This video is part of The Press's 'Up and Running' series, showcasing businesses which have stayed up and running despite the challenges posed by the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes.
An entry from Deb Robertson's blog for 20 March 2013 entitled, "Road works, Road cones and a Triangle Quilt".
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.
So what's the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern got to look forward to when she's back at work? Construction firms falling over, business confidence at a nine-year low, unemployment rising and New Zealand is desperate need of infrastructure to cope with its 10 percent population shock in the last five years. Welcome back Ms Ardern! Ebert Construction is the latest construction company to go belly-up. The Panelists consider why, when the country needs new buildings the most, construction companies aren't making the grade? Peter Silcock of Civil Contractors talks bout the failing of processes and business models used by building firms. Christchurch central seems to have a business micro-climate. And right now it's chilly. The CBD is nothing like it used to be before the 2011 earthquake and those businesses that re-opened say they really had no choice because of the demands of insurance companies. The Kingsland Business Society in Auckland is offering free child minding for couples who go out for the evening in the suburb. United States federal air marshals now follow seemingly ordinary citizens not suspected of a crime, nor on any terrorist watch list. It's a new surveillance programme called "Quiet Skies" and it collects extensive information on travellers based on their behaviour on flights and especailly in airports.
The Christchurch earthquake sequence has been on-going since September 4th 2010. The largest two earthquakes, magnitude (M) 7.1 on September 4th and the M 6.3 on February 22nd 2011 caused immediate and significant damage to the city of Christchurch. As a consequence of the earthquakes, the tourism sector in the Canterbury region has been heavily impacted, with broader impacts being felt throughout the South Island. Resilient Organisations and the University of Canterbury began a series of quantitative investigations into the recovery and response of key business sectors to the earthquakes. The purpose of this study was to build on this work by exploring the outcomes of the earthquakes on the tourism sector, a critical economic driver in the region. Two postal surveys were sent to 719 tourism business managers; the first to businesses in the ‘Impact Zone’ defined as areas that experienced Modified Mercalli intensities greater than 6. The second survey was sent to the remaining businesses throughout the Canterbury region (‘Rest of Canterbury’). Response rates were 46% response for the Impact Zone, and 29% for the Rest of Canterbury. Key findings:
Site of government-owned company responsible for settling AMI policy-holders' claims for Canterbury earthquake damage.
Christchurch-based social enterprise transforms wood waste from residential demolition in Christchurch into useful objects.
Site of industry representative organisations provides a one-stop portal where Cantabrians can research and engage local reconstruction professionals from plumbers and electricians to builders and civil contractors. Includes advice and tips.
Website of the EQR (Earthquake Recovery) Project Management Office, established by the EQC and managed by Fletcher Construction, that responds to claims for the repair and rebuilding of houses damaged in the Feb. 2011 Canterbury earthquake.
A directory of discounts and free services to help those affected by the Christchurch earthquake, including accommodation, counselling services, volunteer work, tradespeople, and concerts.
Website of ICNZ, industry organisation representing fire and general insurers. Includes information relating to the Canterbury earthquakes.