Territorial authorities in New Zealand are responding to regulatory and market forces in the wake of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake to assess and retrofit buildings determined to be particularly vulnerable to earthquakes. Pending legislation may shorten the permissible timeframes on such seismic improvement programmes, but Auckland Council’s Property Department is already engaging in a proactive effort to assess its portfolio of approximately 3500 buildings, prioritise these assets for retrofit, and forecast construction costs for improvements. Within the programme structure, the following varied and often competing factors must be accommodated: * The council’s legal, fiscal, and ethical obligations to the people of Auckland per building regulations, health and safety protocols, and economic growth and urban development planning strategies; * The council’s functional priorities for service delivery; * Varied and numerous stakeholders across the largest territorial region in New Zealand in both population and landmass; * Heritage preservation and community and cultural values; and * Auckland’s prominent economic role in New Zealand’s economy which requires Auckland’s continued economic production post-disaster. Identifying those buildings most at risk to an earthquake in such a large and varied portfolio has warranted a rapid field assessment programme supplemented by strategically chosen detailed assessments. Furthermore, Auckland Council will benefit greatly in time and resources by choosing retrofit solutions, techniques, and technologies applicable to a large number of buildings with similar configurations and materials. From a research perspective, the number and variety of buildings within the council’s property portfolio will provide valuable data for risk modellers on building typologies in Auckland, which are expected to be fairly representative of the New Zealand building stock as a whole.
PDF slides of a presentation given by Dr. Thomas Wilson from the UC Geology department in November 2010. The presentation was delivered at a GeoNZ conference in Auckland.
More now on the charter schools which the Government is planning to trial in South Auckland and in some parts of Christchurch, which were hit badly in the earthquake.
Auckland-based fire fighter, Jeremy Hull, speaking to the press outside the Christchurch Art Gallery. Jeremy was part of the USAR team working on the CTV Building after the earthquake.
Auckland-based fire fighter, Jeremy Hull, speaking to the press outside the Christchurch Art Gallery. Jeremy was part of the USAR team working on the CTV Building after the earthquake.
Auckland-based fire fighter, Jeremy Hull, speaking to the press outside the Christchurch Art Gallery. Jeremy was part of the USAR team working on the CTV Building after the earthquake.
PDF slides from a presentation given by Dr. Thomas Wilson from the UC Geology department on 22 November 2010. The presentation was delivered at a GeoNZ conference in Auckland.
Auckland-based fire fighter, Jeremy Hull, speaking to the press outside the Christchurch Art Gallery. Jeremy was part of the USAR team working on the CTV Building after the earthquake.
Auckland-based fire fighter, Jeremy Hull, speaking to the press outside the Christchurch Art Gallery. Jeremy was part of the USAR team working on the CTV Building after the earthquake.
Auckland structural engineer John Scarry is concerned that the series of investigations into earthquake related collapses of Christchurch buildings won't result in the changes needed to make the city safer.
Ports of Auckland says incidents such as the strikes which crippled its operations and the Canterbury earthquakes which disrupted the Port of Lyttelton's operations shows New Zealand needs a resilient port sector.
NZ SAS troops involved in another gun battle in the Afghan capital Kabul. Another fatal police pursuit, this time, in South Auckland and Police investigate missing cheques for earthquake damage in Christchurch.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "The Canterbury Earthquake Business Benefit Dinner hosted by the Prime Minister, was held tonight at Sky City in Auckland. Shown is the Fairfax Media lot up for auction".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "The Canterbury Earthquake Business Benefit Dinner hosted by the Prime Minister, was held tonight at Sky City in Auckland. Shown at the dinner is Telecom CEO Paul Reynolds".
An image from a Army News March 2011 article titled, "Territorial Force". The image shows members of the Auckland and Northland Territorial Units clearing bricks from a resident's garden in east Christchurch.
A photograph of crowds at the LUXCITY event.
The Panel Christmas Special in downtown Auckland atop the Tyler Street Garage, featuring many of the regular panellists from 2011. Due to a Checkpoint special covering the Christchurch earthquake, this was not broadcast.
A report created by BRANZ, the University of Auckland and Constructing Excellence New Zealand which was commissioned by the Productivity Partnership. It examines the use of KPIs by a number of rebuild organisations.
The impressive Bank of New Zealand building occupied a large corner of Cathedral Square and junction of Hereford and Colombo Streets. The Bank of New Zealand was first established in Auckland in 18…
Another city walk around, this time with my brother-in-law from Auckland. Also went to the Quake City exhibition in the city organised by the Canterbury Museum. First fine day for a while.
Another city walk around, this time with my brother-in-law from Auckland. Also went to the Quake City exhibition in the city organised by the Canterbury Museum. First fine day for a while.
Another city walk around, this time with my brother-in-law from Auckland. Also went to the Quake City exhibition in the city organised by the Canterbury Museum. First fine day for a while.
Another city walk around, this time with my brother-in-law from Auckland. Also went to the Quake City exhibition in the city organised by the Canterbury Museum. First fine day for a while.
Another city walk around, this time with my brother-in-law from Auckland. Also went to the Quake City exhibition in the city organised by the Canterbury Museum. First fine day for a while.
An experiment to see if the cast of a play can make friends with their audience in just an hour is the latest project by the country's only theatre company involving people who are - or have been - homeless. As part of the Auckland Fringe Festival, the Hobson Street Theatre Company is working with the Street Choir on That's What Friends Are For.: It's directed by Dr Peter O'Connor from the University of Auckland. He's worked with survivors of natural disasters like the Christchurch earthquakes to help people - especially children - work through the trauma. Lynn Freeman talks with Peter, and with one of the actors, Richard. That's What Friends Are For premieres on Tuesday at the Basement Theatre as part of the Auckland Fringe, before heading to the fringe festivals in Wellington and Dunedin.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "The Canterbury Earthquake Business Benefit Dinner hosted by the Prime Minister, was held tonight at Sky City in Auckland. Shown at the dinner is Telecom CEO Paul Reynolds (left) with Fonterra CEO Andrew Ferrier".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "The Canterbury Earthquake Business Benefit Dinner hosted by the Prime Minister, was held tonight at Sky City in Auckland. Shown at the dinner is former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley with Pita Sharples".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "The Canterbury Earthquake Business Benefit Dinner hosted by the Prime Minister, was held tonight at Sky City in Auckland. Shown at the dinner is the waiting staff who all wore the Canterbury rugby jersey".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "The Canterbury Earthquake Business Benefit Dinner hosted by the Prime Minister, was held tonight at Sky City in Auckland. Shown at the dinner is Richie McCaw who was one of the bid spotters".
Offers of assistance to quake-ravaged Christchurch are flooding in from around the country.