A photograph looking east down Gloucester Street, towards the intersection of Manchester Street. On-lookers are surveying earthquake damage from behind the cordon. The Christchurch City Council parking building can be seen in the distance.
The man who documented the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes with the film 'When A City Falls' says this week's plan for a new Christchurch CBD will forge a new path for the damaged city.
This thesis is concerned with modelling rockfall parameters associated with cliff collapse debris and the resultant “ramp” that formed following the high peak ground acceleration (PGA) events of 22 February 2011 and 13 June 2011. The Christchurch suburb of Redcliffs, located at the base of the Port Hills on the northern side of Banks Peninsula, New Zealand, is comprised of Miocene-age volcanics with valley-floor infilling marine sediments. The area is dominated by basaltic lava flows of the Mt Pleasant Formation, which is a suite of rocks forming part of the Lyttelton Volcanic Group that were erupted 11.0-10.0Ma. Fresh exposure enabled the identification of a basaltic ignimbrite unit at the study site overlying an orange tuff unit that forms a marker horizon spanning the length of the field area. Prior to this thesis, basaltic ignimbrite on Banks Peninsula has not been recorded, so descriptions and interpretations of this unit are the first presented. Mapping of the cliff face by remote observation, and analysis of hand samples collected from the base of the debris slopes, has identified a very strong (>200MPa), columnar-jointed, welded unit, and a very weak (<5MPa), massive, so-called brecciated unit that together represent the end-member components of the basaltic ignimbrite. Geochemical analysis shows the welded unit is picrite basalt, and the brecciated unit is hawaiite, making both clearly distinguishable from the underlying trachyandesite tuff. RocFall™ 4.0 was used to model future rockfalls at Redcliffs. RocFall™ is a two-dimensional (2D), hybrid, probabilistic modelling programme for which topographical profile data is used to generate slope profiles. GNS Science collected the data used for slope profile input in March 2011. An initial sensitivity analysis proved the Terrestrial Laser Scan (TLS)-derived slope to be too detailed to show any results when the slope roughness parameter was tested. A simplified slope profile enabled slope roughness to be varied, however the resulting model did not correlate with field observations as well. By using slope profile data from March 2011, modelled rockfall behaviour has been calibrated with observed rockfall runout at Redcliffs in the 13 June 2011 event to create a more accurate rockfall model. The rockfall model was developed on a single slope profile (Section E), with the chosen model then applied to four other section lines (A-D) to test the accuracy of the model, and to assess future rockfall runout across a wider area. Results from Section Lines A, B, and E correlate very well with field observations, with <=5% runout exceeding the modelled slope, and maximum bounce height at the toe of the slope <=1m. This is considered to lie within observed limits given the expectation that talus slopes will act as a ramp on which modelled rocks travel further downslope. Section Lines C and D produced higher runout percentage values than the other three section lines (23% and 85% exceeding the base of the slope, respectively). Section D also has a much higher maximum bounce height at the toe of the slope (~8.0m above the slope compared to <=1.0m for the other four sections). Results from modelling of all sections shows the significance of the ratio between total cliff height (H) and horizontal slope distance (x), and of maximum drop height to the top of the talus (H*) and horizontal slope distance (x). H/x can be applied to the horizontal to vertical ratio (H:V) as used commonly to identify potential slope instability. Using the maximum value from modelling at Redcliffs, the future runout limit can be identified by applying a 1.4H:1V ratio to the remainder of the cliff face. Additionally, the H*/x parameter shows that when H*/x >=0.6, the percentage of rock runout passing the toe of the slope will exceed 5%. When H*/x >=0.75, the maximum bounce height at the toe of the slope can be far greater than when H*/x is below this threshold. Both of these parameters can be easily obtained, and can contribute valuable guideline data to inform future land-use planning decisions. This thesis project has demonstrated the applicability of a 2D probabilistic-based model (RocFall™ 4.0) to evaluate rockfall runout on the talus slope (or ramp) at the base of ~35-70m high cliff with a basaltic ignimbrite source. Limitations of the modelling programme have been identified, in particular difficulties with adjusting modelled roughness of the slope profile and the inability to consider fragmentation. The runout profile using RocFall™ has been successfully calibrated against actual profiles and some anomalous results have been identified.
A media release produced by the General Manager of SPCA Canterbury about the SPCA's "Desex in the City" campaign which offered to desex cats, dogs, kittens and puppies in Christchurch for free after the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes. The campaign was created in order to help reduce unwanted animal numbers in Christchurch.
A Burnside woman who's been helping tangata whenua has received a Christchurch Earthquake Award; The country's biggest Maori performance event is coming to Christchurch in 2015; The Ministry of Education will help fund up to 40 Te Pumaomao nation-building courses this year; One of New Zealand's most influential Maori academics is one of six recipients of Auckland University's 2012 Distinguished Alumni Awards.
Remembering the Christchurch February 2011 earthquake; the Crown is considering an appeal after bail was granted to Kim Dotcom; and Murray McCully's emails appear to demonstrate a desire to resist China's advances in the Pacific.
The Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, has made plain his frustration with the performance of the Christchurch City Council, calling the mayor, Bob Parker, a clown and saying that he's at the end of his tether.
A video about a restaurant in the Christchurch central city being shut down by CERA. The Southern Asian Restaurant, along with neighbouring Little Saignon and Jenny Craig, were deemed dangerous by CERA and ordered to stop trading with only 90 minutes notice. The video includes an interview with Lianne Dalziel, the Labour MP for Christchurch East, and April Ouyang, the owner of the Southern Asian Restaurant.
This paper discusses the seismic performance of the standard RC office building in Christchurch that is given as a structural design example in NZS3101, the concrete structures seismic standard in New Zealand. Firstly the push-over analysis was carried out to evaluate the lateral load carrying capacity of the RC building and then to compare that carrying capacity with the Japanese standard law. The estimated figures showed that the carrying capacity of the New Zealand standard RC office building of NZS3101:2006 was about one third of Japanese demanded carrying capacity. Secondly, time history analysis of the multi-mass system was performed to estimate the maximum response story drift angle using recorded ground motions. Finally, a three-dimensional analysis was carried out to estimate the response of the building to the 22nd February, 2011 Canterbury earthquake. The following outcomes were obtained. 1) The fundamental period of the example RC building is more than twice that of Japanese simplified calculation, 2) The example building’s maximum storey drift angle reached 2.5% under the recorded ground motions. The main purpose of this work is to provide background information of seismic design practice for the reconstruction of Christchurch.
Some people in Christchurch who spent last night in freezing earthquake damaged homes with no power, are backing a call from the community group Cancern for emergency shelters to be set up when the next winter storm hits.
While most people are asleep at 5am in Christchurch, the city's florists and wholesalers are already hard at it, bidding for the best blooms. The industry has struggled after the earthquakes, but Katy Gosset finds enthusiasm levels high.
Jim Hay keeps ticking along in a career that's spanned more than 30 years. He's a watchmaker and although he'll be the first to tell you time's just about run out on wrist watches, his skills in clock repairs are in demand since the Christchurch earthquake.
A photograph of the ChristChurch Cathedral showing the damage to the west wall and steel bracing. In the foreground is the plinth where a statue of John Robert Godley stood prior to the February 2011 earthquake.
On the one year anniversary of the February 22nd, flowers were placed in road cones across Christchurch to remember the earthquake victims. These two cone are next to a road sign that says 'Footpath closed. Please use other site'.
On the one year anniversary of the February 22nd, flowers were placed in road cones across Christchurch to remember the earthquake victims. This cone is next to a road sign that says 'Footpath closed. Please use other site'.
A digitally manipulated image of a shop window, with a poster of Elvis Costello visible inside. The photographer comments, "This picture of a young Elvis Costello looks hauntingly out from a badly earthquake damaged shop in Christchurch".
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The Prime Minister, John Key, says it is now up to the police to decide whether criminal charges will be laid over the collapse of the CTV building in the Christchurch earthquake in February last year.
A digitally manipulated photograph of a building on Poplar Lane. The photographer comments, "I felt that this building had a real Italian feel about it. It is actually in Christchurch, New Zealand. It appears on the list to be partially demolished after the Christchurch earthquake, so it might not be around for much longer".
Shows two frames. First frame shows man with moustache. The second frame shows an unshaven bald man with a black eye and bandaged head wearing a daffodil. Text reads 'The changing face of Christchurch', 'Then' and 'Now'. Context: Sport Canterbury called for Hagley Park land to be used for an aquatic facility or indoor stadium (Stuff 9 May 2012) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A man labeled `rate payers' lifts an elephant labeled `convention centre' high over his head. Refers to recent calls for tenders from groups to build a new convention centre in Christchurch. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
A digitally manipulated image of a statue of the Virgin Mary in a broken window of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The photographer comments, "Before the February 2011 earthquake the statue above was facing into the Cathedral looking down a corridor, but after it had turned 180 degrees to point towards the window. The statue of Mary turning like this gave a sign of hope for the people of Christchurch. It was amongst one of the most photographed things after the earthquake until it was removed".
A torn advertising poster on a wall on High Street. The photographer comments, "Fashion Quarterly Autumn 2011 poster looks very unglamorous and neglected after being off limits for over a year in the Christchurch earthquake red zone".
For many years the Heathcote-Avon estuary was the dumping ground for Christchurch's sewage. Then, in 2010, the wastewater was diverted well out to sea, via a long pipe. David Schiel from the University of Canterbury and John Zeldis from NIWA were investigating the effects of this diversion on the health of estuary when the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes happened, re-engineering both the estuary and their experiments.
The country's biggest Maori performance event is coming to Christchurch in 2015; A Burnside woman who's been helping tangata whenua has received a Christchurch Earthquake Award; The Ministry of Education will help fund up to 40 Te Pumaomao nation-building courses this year; and One of New Zealand's most influential Maori academics is one of six recipients of Auckland University's 2012 Distinguished Alumni Awards.
A digitally manipulated image of the Lawrie and Wilson Auctioneers building on Tuam Street. The photographer comments, "This building at 210 Tuam Street is still off limits after the Christchurch earthquake. It has Lawrie and Wilson Auctioneers at the top and Christchurch City Council below. In the past it had a City Photography and at a different time a Parking Unit sign".
A digitally manipulated photograph of the foyer of the Christchurch Art Gallery. The photographer comments, "The Christchurch art gallery has been closed to the public since the February 2011 earthquake and its reopening seems to be in the distant future. I want to convey the feeling that if art is not looked at darkness starts to overcome it and the paint starts to peel off".
Two pink and two purple artificial fabric roses with plastic stems and fabric leaves tied together with a red fabric heart on a wooden stick using purple metallic string. The pink flower has additional plastic leaves with white bead like additions.
Two pink and two purple artificial fabric roses with plastic stems and fabric leaves tied together with a red fabric heart on a wooden stick using pink metallic string. The flowers have additional plastic leaves with white bead like additions.
Following exposure to trauma, stress reactions are initially adaptive. However, some individuals’ psychological response can become maladaptive with long-lasting impairment to functioning. Most people with initial symptoms of stress recover, and thus it is important to distinguish individuals who are at risk of continuing difficulties so that resources are allocated appropriately. Investigations of predictors of PTSD development have largely focused on relational and combat-related trauma, with very limited research looking at natural disasters. This study assessed the nature and severity of psychological difficulties experienced in 101 people seeking treatment following exposure to a significant earthquake that killed 185 people. Peritraumatic dissociation, posttraumatic stress symptoms, symptoms of anxiety, symptoms of depression, and social isolation were assessed. Descriptive analyses revealed the sample to be a highly impaired group, with particularly high levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Path analysis was used to determine whether the experience of some psychological difficulties predicted experience of others. As hypothesised, peritraumatic dissociation was found to predict posttraumatic stress symptoms and symptoms of anxiety. Posttraumatic stress symptoms then predicted symptoms of anxiety and symptoms of depression. Depression and anxiety were highly correlated. Contrary to expectations, social isolation was not significantly related to any other psychological variables. These findings justify the provision of psychological support following a natural disaster and suggest the benefit of assessing peritraumatic dissociation and posttraumatic stress symptoms soon after the event to identify people in need of monitoring and intervention.