Crack'd for Christchurch Photograph 008

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of members of Crack'd for Christchurch breaking up pieces of china.Crack'd for Christchurch comments, "September 2011. Another cracking day, one year after the first earthquake. From left: Marie Hudson and Robyn Black."

Fairfax Video, August 2012 (3)

Videos, UC QuakeStudies

A video of excavators demolishing the former railway station on Moorhouse Avenue. The building was only moderately damaged during the 22 February 2011 earthquake, but repair work was deemed too costly for the co-owner, Science Alive!.

Rosalee Jenkin Photograph 08

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of the rebuilt Blackwell's Department Store on the corner of Williams Street and Raven Quay in Kaiapoi. The department store was rebuilt after the previous building was damaged in the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes.

New Zealand Defence Force photograph 029

Images, UC QuakeStudies

USAR personnel disembarking from the Air Force Boeing 757. The Boeing 757 transported the crew from Auckland to help support the Christchurch Earthquake operation.

New Zealand Defence Force photograph 030

Images, UC QuakeStudies

USAR personnel disembarking from the Air Force Boeing 757. The Boeing 757 transported the crew from Auckland to help support the Christchurch Earthquake operation.

New Zealand Defence Force photograph 149

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A member of the Navy talking to a police officer during an operational tour of Lyttelton to view the aftermath of the Christchurch Earthquake.

New Zealand Defence Force photograph 031

Images, UC QuakeStudies

USAR personnel disembarking from the Air Force Boeing 757. The Boeing 757 transported the crew from Auckland to help support the Christchurch Earthquake operation.

Photograph number UC 11-0372-13

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Gold Awards recipients, Jonas Bergler, team leader for SVA online operations. Pictured here with Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr, Prime Minister John Key and Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee.

New business hub calling for applications

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A new centre being set up to help Canterbury businesses struggling after the recent earthquakes says it's getting ready to open its doors and is calling for applications from interested companies.

Eastern suburbs complain of lack of services

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Labour Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel says the city council has made a terrible decision about how it organises help for earthquake victims and it needs to be changed urgently.

Uncertain future for Christchurch's hospitality sector

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Among those businesses most affected by the end of the welfare scheme are cafes, restaurants and bars. 100 such businesses have closed in the central city alone because of the earthquake.

Royal Commission hearings start in Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Royal Commission hearings into the Canterbury earthquakes started in Christchurch today, with a indication that questions will be raised about whether some of those trapped in collapsed buildings could have survived.

Henry Africa's Demolition - Photograph 18

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Detail of the partially-demolished Henry Africa's building. The photographer comments, "A building housing a restaurant and a great little neighbourhood bar is finally coming down because of earthquake damage. Windows".

Photograph by Jocelyn Kinghorn 360

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A brick fence has been spray painted after the building was cleared by a USAR team. This system was used following the February earthquake to mark buildings that have been checked.

Photograph by Jocelyn Kinghorn 604

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Detail of the fence and entrance around an apartment block. On the fence are spray painted codes left by USAR following the February earthquake to mark buildings that have been checked.

Helen Devereux Photograph 054

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Outside the Arts Centre, near the former Dux de Lux which has closed following the February earthquake. On the cordon fencing are pieces of paper with words of hope for Christchurch.

Photograph by Jocelyn Kinghorn 359

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A wooden fence has been spray painted after the building was cleared by a USAR team. This system was used following the February earthquake to mark buildings that have been checked.

Henry Africa's Demolition - Photograph 09

Images, UC QuakeStudies

The partially-demolished Henry Africa's building. The photographer comments, "A building housing a restaurant and a great little neighbourhood bar is finally coming down because of earthquake damage. A landmark vanishes".

Henry Africa's Demolition - Photograph 14

Images, UC QuakeStudies

The partially-demolished Henry Africa's building. The photographer comments, "A building housing a restaurant and a great little neighbourhood bar is finally coming down because of earthquake damage. Half way gone".

Photograph by Jocelyn Kinghorn 250

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A store window that has been spray painted after it was cleared by a USAR team. This system was used following the February earthquake to mark buildings that have been checked.

Photograph by Jocelyn Kinghorn 280

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Spray painted codes outside a block of apartments after it was cleared by a USAR team. This system was used following the February earthquake to mark buildings that have been checked.

Govt set to make announcement about future of AMI

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Government has confirmed it is closely monitoring the insurer, AMI, whose $1 Billion in reinsurance and capital is believed to have been exhausted by the two Canterbury earthquakes.

Sonja Farmer Photograph 24

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of the earthquake damage to a fence on Park Terrace. The fence has crumbled, spilling bricks onto the pavement. Some of the bricks have been stacked behind.

List of historic building to be destroyed grows

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The reality of just how many historic buildings will be lost to the Christchurch earthquake is now becoming apparent with Civil Defence adding another 123 buildings to the demolition list.

Snow means students miss out on precious exam prep

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Heavy snow is forcing schools to close across the country. It's a double blow for Canterbury students who have already lost weeks of precious school time due to the earthquakes.

Small band of campanologists keep bellringing alive

Audio, Radio New Zealand

With the silencing of the Cathedral bells in Christchurch following February's earthquake there are now just six places in New Zealand where a full set of bells can be rung.

Officials put barriers in way of strengthening building - owner

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A Christchurch businessman has told the Earthquake Royal Commission the city council was a nightmare to deal with when he was trying to strengthen his building before the September quake.

Role of engineer in inspecting Chch building under spotlight

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A structural engineer who ordered a building green stickered though he'd failed to do another thorough check on it has defended his inspections at the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission.

Three Essays on Adverse Events and Student Outcomes

Research papers, Victoria University of Wellington

This dissertation contains three essays on the impact of unexpected adverse events on student outcomes. All three attempt to identify causal inference using plausibly exogenous shocks and econometric tools, applied to rich administrative data.  In Chapter 2, I present evidence of the causal effects of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake on tertiary enrolment and completion. Using the shock of the 2011 earthquake on high school students in the Canterbury region, I estimate the effect of the earthquake on a range of outcomes including tertiary enrolment, degree completion and wages. I find the earthquake causes a substantial increase in tertiary enrolment, particularly for low ability high school leavers from damaged schools. However, I find no evidence that low ability students induced by the earthquake complete a degree on time.  In Chapter 3, I identify the impact of repeat disaster exposure on university performance, by comparing outcomes for students who experience their first earthquake while in university, to outcomes for students with prior earthquake exposure. Using a triple-differences estimation strategy with individual-by-year fixed effects, I identify a precise null effect, suggesting that previous experience of earthquakes is not predictive of response to an additional shock two years later.  The final chapter investigates the impact of injuries sustained in university on academic performance and wages, using administrative data including no-fault insurance claims, emergency department attendance and hospital admissions, linked with tertiary enrolment. I find injuries, including minor injuries, have a negative effect on re-enrolment, degree completion and grades in university.

The Week in Review - week ending 15 July 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A review of the week's news including: The Labour Party's capital gains tax policy announcement, Act's creative director resigns over newspaper ad, day two and three reports from the Pike River Mine tragedy Royal Commission Of Inquiry, the treatment of Crete veterans during recent 70th anniversary commemorations, Sydenham recovery following Christchurch earthquake, Lonely Planet puts Christchurch back on it's visit list and small brewers angry over Radler beer trademark ruling.