A group of woman playing petanque on Gap Filler's petanque pitch.
A photograph of a speaker giving a presentation on the Sumner master plan.
A video titled, "Earthquake Reflections", produced by the IHC's Christchurch Earthquake Reflection Group.
When the devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand, at 12.51pm on 22nd February 2011, the psychological and physical landscape was irrevocably changed. In the days and weeks following the disaster communities were isolated due to failed infrastructure, continuing aftershocks and the extensive search and rescue effort which focussed resources on the central business district. In such moments the resilience of a community is truly tested. This research discusses the role of grassroots community groups in facilitating community resilience during the Christchurch 2010/11 earthquakes and the role of place in doing so. I argue that place specific strategies for urban resilience need to be enacted from a grassroots level while being supported by broader policies and agencies. Using a case study of Project Lyttelton – a group aspiring towards a resilient sustainable future who were caught at the epicentre of the February earthquake – I demonstrate the role of a community group in creating resilience through self-organised place specific action during a disaster. The group provided emotional care, basic facilities and rebuilding assistance to the residents of Lyttelton, proving to be an invaluable asset. These actions are closely linked to the characteristics of social support and social learning that have been identified as important to socio-ecological resilience. In addition this research will seek to understand and explore the nuances of place and identity and its role in shaping resilience to such dis-placing events. Drawing on community narratives of the displacement of place identity, the potential for a progressive sense of place as instigated by local groups will be investigated as an avenue for adaptation by communities at risk of disaster and place destabilisation.
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.
A video titled, "Earthquake Reflections: Three years on...", produced by the IHC's Christchurch Earthquake Reflection Group.
A group of children playing 'Skinny Limits', a Gap Golf course in Sydenham.
A group of children playing 'Skinny Limits', a Gap Golf course in Sydenham.
A group of children playing 'Skinny Limits', a Gap Golf course in Sydenham.
A photograph submitted by Ginny Larsen to the QuakeStories website. The description reads, "Community meeting at St Albans Baptist Church. Around 70 leaders of community groups met regularly to work on how to help the Shirley/Papanui community recover under the superb leadership of Chris Mene (then Community Board Chair).".
A PDF copy of pages 194-195 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'Sumner Community-Led Masterplan'.
A PDF document which discusses the lessons learned by the Christchurch Migrant Inter-Agency group after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The group was set up to support migrants and refugees following the February 22 earthquake in 2011, and has now been dis-established. However, the Christchurch Migrant Centre continues to co-ordinate services and help migrants settle into life in Christchurch. The purpose of the report is to provide a record of key events and responses of the group in the immediate aftermath of the February 22 earthquake, and to offer some candid discussion and insight with respect to their success or otherwise.
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat".
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat".
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat".
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat".
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat".
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat".
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat".
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat".
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat".
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat".
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat".
The Canterbury Communities' Earthquake Recovery Network or CanCERN represents dozens of residents' associations and community groups. Tom McBrearty is chairman, whose own house has been badly affected.
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat" on Oxford Terrace.
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat" on Oxford Terrace.
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat" on Oxford Terrace.
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat" on Oxford Terrace.
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat" on Oxford Terrace.
A group of people dancing on Gap Filler's "Dance-O-Mat" on Oxford Terrace.