
A Gap Filler project, Wayne Youle's "I seem to have temporarily misplaced my sense of humour " (2011), is a shadowboard mural on an empty wall in Sydenham which depicts things lost during the earthquake.
A Gap Filler project, Wayne Youle's "I seem to have temporarily misplaced my sense of humour " (2011), is a shadowboard mural on an empty wall in Sydenham which depicts things lost during the earthquake.
A Gap Filler project, Wayne Youle's "I seem to have temporarily misplaced my sense of humour " (2011), is a shadowboard mural on an empty wall in Sydenham which depicts things lost during the earthquake.
Photos of Christchurch City LIbraries Outreach staff working in welfare centres following the February 22 earthquake. File ref: CCL-2011-02-27-OperationStoryTime-tumble-tower From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries
Photos of Christchurch City LIbraries Outreach staff working in welfare centres following the February 22 earthquake. File ref: CCL-2011-03-01-OperationStoryTime-DSCF0462 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries
Photos of Christchurch City LIbraries Outreach staff working in welfare centres following the February 22 earthquake. File ref: CCL-2011-03-01-OperationStoryTime-DSCF0461 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries
Earthquake events can be sudden, stressful, unpredictable, and uncontrollable events in which an individual’s internal and external assumptions of their environment may be disrupted. A number of studies have found depression, and other psychological symptoms may be common after natural disasters. They have also found an association between depression, losses and disruptions for survivors. The present study compared depression symptoms in two demographically matched communities differentially affected by the Canterbury (New Zealand) earthquakes. Hypotheses were informed by the theory of learned helplessness (Abramson, Seligman & Teasdale, 1978). A door-to-door survey was conducted in a more physically affected community sample (N=67) and a relatively unaffected community sample (N=67), 4 months after the February 2011 earthquake. Participants were again assessed approximately 10 months after the quake. Measures of depression, acute stress, anxiety, aftershock anxiety, losses, physical disruptions and psychological disruptions were taken. In addition, prior psychological symptoms, medication, alcohol and cigarette use were assessed. Participants in the more affected community reported higher depression scores than the less affected community. Overall, elevated depressive score at time 2 were predicted by depression at time 1, acute stress and anxiety symptoms at time 2, physical disruptions following the quake and psychosocial functioning disruptions at time 2. These results suggest the influence of acute stress, anxiety and disruptions in predicting depression sometime after an earthquake. Supportive interventions directed towards depression, and other psychological symptoms, may prove helpful in psychological adjustment following ongoing disruptive stressors and uncontrollable seismic activity.
Two images of a house, taken before and after the earthquakes. In the after photograph the chimneys are gone, a column supporting the car port has partly collapsed, windows are broken, and the previously neat lawn and driveway are overgrown. The photographer comments, "This was a house that I was selling up to the September 2010 earthquake in Christchurch. It was on Avonside Drive, which was an area that has been badly hit in every earthquake that has hit the area. In the September quake parts of the house moved in different directions and one of the upstairs doors had to be smashed open to release one of the sons from his bedroom. This occurred in the dark with numerous aftershocks shaking the house. Liquefaction poured up through the floor and flowed down the drive. Everyone got out OK, but soon after the house was red stickered meaning it was dangerous to enter. The house was looted many times even though there was constant police patrols. When the most violent earthquake occurred on 22 February 2012 both the tall heavy chimneys came crashing through into the living areas. Subsequent earthquakes and aftershocks have caused one of the brick fence pillars to fall and the front garage pillar to break up and twist. The family's troubles did not end there. They moved into the home of one of their parents and this mansion of a home was so badly affected by the February earthquake that no one could enter to collect any of their or their parents' belongings. They now own a new home, which they are fond of except when the ground shakes yet again. There has been to date 10,712 earthquakes and aftershocks since 4 September 2010".
Members of the New Zealand Defence Force saluting during the singing of the National Anthem at the Christchurch Earthquake Memorial Service in Hagley Park.
Aerial image of Cathedral Square taken by the Royal New Zealand Air Force for the Earthquake Commission. The damaged Press Building can be seen.
Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel preparing a Hercules C-130 to evacuate rest home residents affected by the Canterbury Earthquake.
Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel preparing a Hercules C-130 to evacuate rest home residents affected by the Canterbury Earthquake.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the former NZ Trust and Loan building on Hereford Street. The front has been supported by steel bracing.
Ethnic migrants from Christchurch displaced by the earthquake are being given some much needed cultural and spiritual comfort from a centre in Auckland's Waitakere district.
Professional and personal partners Victoria Flight and John Drew about the nutritional benefits of coconut oil, and the decision to develop their business 'Blue Coconut' after experiencing a deeply traumatic event in Christchurch's earthquake of February 2011.
A press release from the Office of the Press Secretary in the US White House about President Obama's call to Prime Minister John Key to express his condolences over the 22 February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch and to offer American assistance.
The Education Minister is waiting for the Canterbury Earthquake Royal Commission to report back before considering a national survey of all school buildings in the country.
Insurance premiums look set to rise by up to a third and even more to meet the cost of the Christchurch earthquakes and other disasters overseas.
The Social Development Minister says staff are having to be flexible when deciding what financial support those caught up in the Christchurch earthquake are eligible for.
A spokesperson for the families of the victims of the Christchurch earthquake says without legal representation their voice will not be heard during the Royal Commission.
The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission will hear this week that the cost of upgrading the city's unreinforced masonry buildings is more than the buildings are worth.
A photograph of earthquake-damaged buildings on Manchester Street. Missing brick work and cracks can be seen at the top of the of Dick Smith building.
A photograph of Danica Nel and other workers standing in line with their authorization forms for the Residential Access Project. The project gave residents temporary access within the red-zone cordon in order to retrieve items from their homes after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A close-up photograph of parts of the Townsend Telescope recovered from the rubble of the Observatory tower. The telescope was housed in the tower at the Christchurch Arts Centre. It was severely damaged when the tower collapsed during the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
Mayor Bob Parker entering the Christchurch Art Gallery after an aftershock hit during one of their briefings. A pile of shattered glass is in the main doorway. The Christchurch Art Gallery served as the headquarters for Civil Defence after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A Transfield Services worker entering a manhole in north-east Christchurch. Piles of liquefaction are around the man hole. In the background, is one of the portable toilets set up after the 22 February 2011 earthquake to service areas of the city without operational sewers.
A Christchurch kapa haka group took to the stage in Auckland today, surprising organisers who didn't expect they'd be able to perform after last month's earthquake.
A water tank outside a New World supermarket providing residents with clean water. The earthquake caused major damage to sewer pipes and pump stations in and around Christchurch.
People caught up in February's earthquake in Christchurch want to know why a Royal Commission of inquiry isn't going to apportion any blame for building collapses.
Church bells will ring worldwide ring for Christchurch today as tens of thousands of people attend today's National memorial service for the victims for the Christchurch earthquake.