This report forms part of a research project examining rural community resilience to natural hazard events, with a particular focus on transient population groups. A preliminary desktop and scoping exercise was undertaken to examine nine communities affected by the Kaikoura earthquake and to identify the variety of transient population groups that are commonly (and increasingly) found in rural New Zealand (see Wilson & Simmons, 2017). From this, four case study communities – Blenheim, Kaikoura, Waiau and St Arnaud – were selected to represent a range of settlement types. These communities varied in respect of social, economic and geographic features, including the presence of particular transient population groups, and earthquake impact. While the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake provided a natural hazard event on which to focus the research, the research interest was in long-term (and broad) community resilience, rather than short-term (and specific) response and recovery actions which occurred post-earthquake.
While there are varying definitions of the term ‘social cohesion’, a number of common themes regularly surface to describe what cohesive societies look like. Previous studies using known indicators of social cohesion have often been conducted at the international level for cross-country comparison, while there has been less focus on social cohesion within countries. The purpose of this research is to identify if indicators of social cohesion can be used to map trends at the city level in order to draw meaningful conclusions, particularly in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Using known indicators of social cohesion and Christchurch City as the basis for this study, variations in social cohesion have been found within the city wards, that preceded but were affected by the events of the Canterbury earthquakes during 2010/11. These findings have significant policy implications for the future of Christchurch, as city leaders work towards the recovery of and subsequent rebuilding of communities.
A photograph of Ryan Reynolds (left) and a participant in Milk Fight, before the start of the event. Milk Fight was a dairy-fuelled urban food fight by local artist Gaby Montejo. The event was part of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of artist Gaby Montejo (right) and volunteers preparing for Milk Fight - a dairy-fuelled urban food fight which was part of FESTA 2014. Milk Fight was held on the former Convention Centre site at 100 Peterborough Street.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Urban Search and Rescue workers remove the insides of the historic MLC building built in 1906 on the corner of Manchester/Hereford Streets. The seven storey building will be demolished as it is at risk of collapsing".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Urban Search and Rescue workers remove the insides of the historic MLC building built in 1906 on the corner of Manchester/Hereford Streets. The seven storey building will be demolished as it is at risk of collapsing".
A photograph of Netta Egoz stirring a bathtub of milk before Gaby Montejo's Milk Fight event. This dairy-fuelled urban food fight was part of FESTA 2014, and was held on the former Convention Centre site at 100 Peterborough Street.
A photograph of Milk Fight participants Hera Hjartardottir, Audrey Baldwin and Brie Sherow, before the start of the event. Milk Fight was a dairy-fuelled urban food fight by local artist Gaby Montejo. The event was part of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of local artist Gaby Montejo in a cow onesie. Montejo is drinking from a large tank of milk before his Milk Fight event. Milk Fight was a dairy-fuelled urban food fight, which was part of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of local artist Gaby Montejo in a cow onesie. Montejo is drinking from a large tank of milk before his Milk Fight event. Milk Fight was a dairy-fuelled urban food fight, which was part of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of local artist Gaby Montejo in a cow onesie. Montejo is bending over a large tank of milk before his Milk Fight event. Milk Fight was a dairy-fuelled urban food fight, which was part of FESTA 2014.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Urban Search and Rescue workers remove the insides of the historic MLC building built in 1906 on the corner of Manchester/Hereford Streets. The seven storey building will be demolished as it is at risk of collapsing".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Urban Search and Rescue workers remove the insides of the historic MLC building built in 1906 on the corner of Manchester/Hereford Streets. The seven storey building will be demolished as it is at risk of collapsing".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Urban Search and Rescue workers remove the insides of the historic MLC building built in 1906 on the corner of Manchester/Hereford Streets. The seven storey building will be demolished as it is at risk of collapsing".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Urban Search and Rescue workers remove the insides of the historic MLC building built in 1906 on the corner of Manchester/Hereford Streets. The seven storey building will be demolished as it is at risk of collapsing".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Urban Search and Rescue workers remove the insides of the historic MLC building built in 1906 on the corner of Manchester/Hereford Streets. The seven storey building will be demolished as it is at risk of collapsing".
A photograph of participants armed with waterguns before the start of Gaby Montejo's Milk Fight - a dairy-fuelled urban food fight, which was part of FESTA 2014. Milk Fight was held on the former Convention Centre site at 100 Peterborough Street.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Urban Search and Rescue workers remove the insides of the historic MLC building built in 1906 on the corner of Manchester/Hereford Streets. The seven storey building will be demolished as it is at risk of collapsing".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Urban Search and Rescue workers remove the insides of the historic MLC building built in 1906 on the corner of Manchester/Hereford Streets. The seven storey building will be demolished as it is at risk of collapsing".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Urban Search and Rescue workers remove the insides of the historic MLC building built in 1906 on the corner of Manchester/Hereford Streets. The seven storey building will be demolished as it is at risk of collapsing".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Urban Search and Rescue workers remove the insides of the historic MLC building built in 1906 on the corner of Manchester/Hereford Streets. The seven storey building will be demolished as it is at risk of collapsing".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Urban Search and Rescue workers remove the insides of the historic MLC building built in 1906 on the corner of Manchester/Hereford Streets. The seven storey building will be demolished as it is at risk of collapsing".
Emergency personnel gathered on Madras Street outside the collapsed Canterbury Television building. A digger can be seen searching the rubble while fire fighters work to extinguish the fire in the building.
A press release from the United States Embassy New Zealand containing a statement by President Barack Obama about the 22 February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch.
National Manager Special Operations, New Zealand Fire Service, who lead the Urban Search and Rescue Teams in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake. He then lead the New Zealand USAR team which travelled to Northern Japan to assist after the earthquake and tsunami there.
An entry from Jennifer Middendorf's blog for 2 March 2011 entitled, "Random things".
A story submitted by Peter Seager to the QuakeStories website.
Page 3 of Section A of the Christchurch Press, published on Wednesday 31 October 2012.
A PDF copy of The Star newspaper, published on Friday 9 November 2012.
Page 3 of Section A of the Christchurch Press, published on Friday 2 November 2012.