Prime Minister John Key preparing for a photograph with members of the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) outside the US headquarters in Latimer Square. Canterbury Recovery Minister Jerry Brownlee is standing behind him.
Members of the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) photographed with their team leader, Al Dwyer, Prime Minister John Key, and Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee, outside the US headquarters in Latimer Square.
Silver Award recipients, Peter Jakowetz (second to the left) and Jason Pemberton (middle). Peter is from Christchurch and Jason was originally USA, then Hamilton. Pictured here with Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr, Prime Minister John Key and Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee.
Topics - A magnitude 4.7 earthquake that rattled Wellington early this morning was the second to hit the capital in less than a week. Your ideas for economic measures to stimulate Christchurch's recovery continue to flow in.
The Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre's "Community Earthquake Update" bulletin, published on Friday 26 August 2011.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "When a business recovery or deconstruction crew are working inside a building, there is usually a watcher outside on the street. This one looked quite comfortable in Armagh Street".
The cartoon shows Prime Minister John Key as a surgeon in a blood-spattered white coat; he has just created a Frankenstein monster which has resulted in the Minister for Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee and Mayor of Christchurch Bob Parker joined together in a single body named 'CERA". Gerry Brownlee clutches a huge spiked mallet and Bob Parker a paintbrush. Context - a new bill is being rushed through parliament to establish the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera); it empowers it to lead reconstruction efforts in Christchurch. It gives Cera specific powers to get information from any source, to requisition and build on land and to carry out demolitions. It can also take over local authorities if they are not working effectively on recovery work. The monster suggests distinctly differing philosophies on how the work of rebuilding Christchurch should proceed. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Disaster recovery is significantly affected by funding availability. The timeliness and quality of recovery activities are not only impacted by the extent of the funding but also the mechanisms with which funding is prioritised, allocated and delivered. This research addresses the impact of funding mechanisms on the effectiveness and efficiency of post-disaster demolition and debris management programmes. A qualitative assessment of the impacts on recovery of different funding sources and mechanisms was carried out, using the 2010 Canterbury Earthquake as well as other recent international events as case studies. The impacts assessed include: timeliness, completeness, environmental, economic and social impacts. Of the case studies investigated, the Canterbury Earthquake was the only disaster response to rely solely on a privatised approach to insurance for debris management. Due to the low level of resident displacement and low level of hazard in the waste, this was a satisfactory approach, though not ideal. This approach has led to greater organisational complexity and delays. For many other events, the potential community wide impacts caused by the prolonged presence of disaster debris means that publicly funded and centrally facilitated programmes appear to be the most common and effective method of managing disaster waste.
Gold Award, Jade Rutherford on left and Gina Scandrett on right, the 'voices' of the Student Volunteer Army who, co-ordinated and tracked all jobs, movements of the organisation. Pictured here with Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr, Prime Minister John Key and Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee.
Opposition parties fear a new department to control the rebuilding of Christchurch will be Wellington-centric and not allow the community to have its fair say in decisions. The Labour Party's spokesperson on the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, Clayton Cosgrove, spoke to our political editor Brent Edwards.
Liquefaction silt covers the ground in front of the Shirley Medical Centre, and more silt is piled beside the entrance. The photographer comments, "These photos show our old house in River Rd and recovery work around Richmond and St Albans. The local medical centre is seriously silted up".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 1 March 2011 entitled, "Day 8, 6pm - inside the Christchurch cordon".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 7 March 2011 entitled, "Day 14 - in the red zone".
Liquefaction silt covers the ground in front of the Shirley Medical Centre, and more silt is piled beside the entrance. The photographer comments, "These photos show our old house in River Rd and recovery work around Richmond and St Albans. The local medical centre is seriously silted up".
The driveway has collapsed into a large sink hole in front of the Shirley Burger King. Warning tape cordons off the area. The photographer comments, "These photos show our old house in River Rd and recovery work around Richmond and St Albans. Shirley Burger King has driveway issues".
Some residents in one of Christchurch's worst affected suburbs doubt a new government agency will help their earthquake recovery. An announcement about a new department is expected within days but some of those still severely affected question the setting up of a new bureaucracy.
A story submitted by Alison Downes to the QuakeStories website.
Damage to the garden of a house in Richmond. Liquefaction is visible among the plants and on the driveway. The photographer comments, "These photos show our old house in River Rd and recovery work around Richmond and St Albans. Back lawn under 10cm of water and silt".
Damage to a house in Richmond. The brick wall is badly cracked and twisted, and some bricks have fallen, exposing the lining paper and framing below. The photographer comments, "These photos show our old house in River Rd and recovery work around Richmond and St Albans. I think it's broken".
Questions to Ministers 1. AMY ADAMS to the Minister of Finance: What will be the focus of the Budget on 19 May? 2. Hon PHIL GOFF to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements on the sale of State-owned assets? 3. SHANE ARDERN to the Minister of Customs: What recent reports has he received regarding interceptions of methamphetamine by Customs officers at the border? 4. Hon ANNETTE KING to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that "we've done as good a job as we can in the conditions we've got to try and help low-income New Zealanders"? 5. KEITH LOCKE to the Minister of Defence: Has New Zealand's SAS detained anyone during its operations or joint operations with other forces, since being redeployed to Afghanistan in 2009? 6. Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by his statement that "I have seen almost no criticism of the Government's plan to rebalance the economy" given the statement from the Chair of the 2025 Taskforce, Don Brash, that "There is certainly no evidence yet that current policies will deliver the kind of accelerated growth we need"? 7. NICKY WAGNER to the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery: What process will the Government use to rebuild and restore damaged infrastructure in Canterbury? 8. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery: Is he satisfied that the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011 provides him with all the powers necessary to facilitate the recovery of Canterbury? 9. Hon JOHN BOSCAWEN to the Minister of Finance: By how much has Government expenditure increased as a percentage of GDP since he became Minister of Finance? 10. DAVID SHEARER to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in his Minister of Foreign Affairs? 11. KATRINA SHANKS to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Why has the Government announced a Green Paper on how we value, nurture and protect children? 12. Hon TREVOR MALLARD to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in all his Ministers?
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 26 August 2011 entitled, "Follow that cat!".
A photograph of members of Massey University's Veterinary Emergency Response Team (VERT) working in the central city red zone after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. VERT travelled to Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake in order to assist with caring for animals. Each member is wearing a hard hat, face masks, and a head lamp.
A story submitted by Pat McElwain to the QuakeStories website.
An entry from Jennifer Middendorf's blog for 1 March 2011 entitled, "Cancel that".
A story submitted by Kane David to the QuakeStories website.
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 28 July 2011 entitled, "Water Warning".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 15 June 2011 entitled, "Fortunate Felines".
A photograph of a staff briefing at SPCA Canterbury after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
Topics - The Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, says it is important to be realistic about the demolition of Christchurch's heritage buildings following the powerful earthquake there last month. Motorists should prepare themselves for more increases in the price of petrol which, the AA warns, is likely to reach a new high.
Damage to a house in Richmond. Stucco underneath a window has cracked, and the foundation appears to be on a lean. The photographer comments, "These photos show our old house in River Rd and recovery work around Richmond and St Albans. The bay window of our bedroom has jumped off the foundations, cracking the stucco".