Comparing the direct human impact of natural disasters for two (surprising…

Research papers, Victoria University of Wellington

The standard way in which disaster damages are measured involves examining separately the number of fatalities, of injuries, of people otherwise affected, and the financial damage that natural disasters cause. Here, we implement a novel way to aggregate these separate measures of disaster impact and apply it to two recent catastrophic events: the Christchurch (New Zealand) earthquakes and the Greater Bangkok (Thailand) floods of 2011. This new measure, which is similar to the World Health Organization’s calculation of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost from the burden of diseases and injuries, is described in detail in Noy (2014). It allows us to conclude that New Zealand lost 180 thousand lifeyears as a result of the 2011 events, and Thailand lost 2,644 thousand years. In per capita terms, the loss is similar, with both countries losing about 15 days per person due to the 2011 catastrophic events in these two countries. We also compare these events to other potentially similar events.

Focus on Politics for 18 July 2014

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch and its surrounding towns are slowly starting to be rebuilt after the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Our political editor Brent Edwards has been in Christchurch to find out whether the rebuild debate will dominate the election campaign in the city.

Fans of The Boss ready themselves for Chch concert tonight

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The sounds of Bruce Springsteen will ring out around Christchurch tonight, ahead of the sixth anniversary of the deadly February 2011 earthquake in the region. Long time fans join us to discuss what they're expecting from tonight's gig.

Lismore Lodge, Over the Barrel: how the other half lived.

Articles, Christchurch uncovered

Most of the work I do as a buildings archaeologist focuses on the humble 19th century cottage. These types of buildings, their construction methods and materials have become well trod territory in post-earthquake Christchurch, meaning we now have a fair … Continue reading →

Good news and bad for Christchurch Theatres

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Years after the earthquakes, Christchurch is still desperately short of theatre space. But now the city council's investment of 30-million dollars to help the Court Theatre replace its very successful temporary home in Addington, is being widely applauded.

Christchurch Press Infographic: 11 December 2012 (2), right

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A graphic illustrating the findings of the Royal Commission enquiry into the CTV building collapse.

Photograph number UC 11-0372-25

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Gold Award, presented to Louis Brown (from Christchurch), student volunteer army media relations and all round motivater and leader. Pictured here with Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr, Prime Minister John Key and Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee.

Photograph number UC 11-0372-26

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Gold Award recipient, Louis Brow (from Christchurch), student volunteer army media relations, and all round motivater and leader. Pictured here with Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr, Prime Minister John Key and Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee.

Photograph number UC 11-0372-33

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Silver Awar, presented to Erin Jackson (from Christchurch), she acted as the Big Top manager during student volunteer army operations. Pictured here with Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr, Prime Minister John Key and Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee.

Photograph number UC 11-0372-23

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Gold Award, Kohan McNabb (from Ruapuna), who helped to establish the student volunteer army by tying in UCSA resources. Pictured here with Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr, Prime Minister John Key and Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee.

Christchurch business closures

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Christchurch central seems to have a business micro-climate. And right now it's chilly. The CBD is nothing like it used to be before the 2011 earthquake and those businesses that re-opened say they really had no choice because of the demands of insurance companies.

Chch clean up underway, as calls made for more shelter

Audio, Radio New Zealand

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.

Public art installations on in Christchurch

Audio, Radio New Zealand

A couple of the most intriguing public art installations on in Christchurch. Dr Jessica Halliday discusses COCA gallery's window space project and Riki Manuel describes his art installations made from the ruins of earthquake hit buildings.

Photograph number UC 11-0285-06

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Postgraduate students who went on an exchange to Oxford after the February earthquakes at a function with Vice Chancellor Rod Car and Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford Andrew Hamilton to sign a Memorandum of Understand between the two Universities.

Photograph number UC 11-0285-04

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Postgraduate students who went on an exchange to Oxford after the February earthquakes at a function with Vice Chancellor Rod Car and Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford Andrew Hamilton to sign a Memorandum of Understand between the two Universities.

Photograph number UC 11-0285-05

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Postgraduate students who went on an exchange to Oxford after the February earthquakes at a function with Vice Chancellor Rod Car and Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford Andrew Hamilton to sign a Memorandum of Understand between the two Universities.

Photograph number UC 11-0372-32

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Silver Award presented to Erin Jackson (from Christchurch), she acted as the Big Top manager during student volunteer army operations. Pictured here with Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr, Prime Minister John Key and Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Gerry Brownlee.

Russ Botting Photograph 7

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of earthquake damage to the Crown Masonic Lodge on Wordsworth Street, also known as the Freemasons Centre. Sections of the brick wall at the front of the building have collapsed. The entranceway is supported with wooden bracing.

Russ Botting Photograph 8

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of earthquake damage to the Crown Masonic Lodge on Wordsworth Street, also known as the Freemasons Centre. Sections of the brick wall at the front of the building have collapsed. The entranceway is supported with wooden bracing.

Fiona Farrell: Writing the Quakes

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Fiona Farrell has been awarded the $100,000 Creative New Zealand Michael King Writer's Fellowship to research and write twin books, one fiction and one non-fiction, inspired by her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes and the rebuilding of the city.

Insurance Council responds to claim quake insurance too complex

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Overlapping claims and general confusion are delaying money payable to New Zealand for damage from the Canterbury earthquakes. The money involved is payable through reinsurance schemes taken out by insurance companies in this country, with firms overseas.

Southern Story for 26 April 2012 - Flower Auction

Audio, Radio New Zealand

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.

Christchurch Cathedral has suffered massive damage

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch Cathedral has suffered massive damage, with its spire reduced to rubble and the roof caved in. There were visitors inside the building when the earthquake hit, and it is still unclear whether anyone was trapped beneath the rubble.

Parliament pays tribute to victims and rescuers and adjourns

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Parliament has adjourned for two weeks following the declaration of a national emergency after yesterday's devastating Canterbury earthquake. The leadership of the various parties took turns to acknowlege the disaster and pay tribute to it victims and heroes.

Scandinavian inspiration aids Christchurch rebuild

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The Christchurch City Council is looking to Scandinavia for help with the earthquake re-build. Two Danish based urban design experts are working with the Council over the next four weeks to develop a draft plan for rebuilding the central city.

CTV building to be focus of next Inquests

Audio, Radio New Zealand

The remaining victims of the Christchurch's CTV building will be the focus of a Coroner's inquest next month, as families of those killed in the February earthquake continue to question the safety of buildings in the inner city.

Checkpoint Top Stories for Thursday 19 May 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Full coverage of the budget and the cuts to kiwisaver, working for families and student loans. Plans to raise between 5 and 7 billion dollars from partial asset sales and a new Earthquake Kiwi Bond to raise money for Christchurch.

An all-Christchurch Chapter and Verse

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Canterbury novelist Joanna Orwin has a new, futurist story of a New Zealand changed by cataclysmic volcanoes and tsunami, Sacrifice. And we hear about some of the stories in a post-earthquake Christchurch anthology, Tales for Canterbury.

New technology - Nat Torkington

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Nat's been working on Earthquake relief in Christchurch with the development of the Christchurch Recovery Map and when not doing that, he's been looking at the iPad II, 3D Printers for schools, anti-lasers and other cutting edge tech.

Best of the Week - 4 March 2011

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Highlights from Radio New Zealand National's programmes for the week ending Friday 4 March. This week.......more news and interviews about the Christchurch earthquake and we delve into an ice cave created by Mt Erebus in Antartica.