This thesis examines how 18 University of Canterbury students based in Christchurch experienced housing insecurity during the three years after a series of major earthquakes from late 2010 and throughout 2011. I adopted a qualitative exploratory approach to gather students’ accounts and examine their experiences which were analysed using constructivist grounded theory methods. Three core categories were identified from the data: mobility, recreating security, and loss. Mobility included the effects of relocation and dislocation, as well as how the students searched for stability. Recreating security required a renewed sense of belonging and also addressed the need to feel physically safe. Lastly, loss included the loss of material possessions and also the loss of voice and political representation. The theory that emerged from these findings is that the extent to which students were able to control their mobility largely explained their experiences of housing insecurity. When students experienced a loss of control over their mobility they effectively addressed this by being resourceful and drawing on existing forms of capital. This resourcefulness generated a new form of capital, here called security capital, which represents a conceptual contribution to existing debates on students’ experiences of homelessness in a disaster context.
A digger at the demolition site of the Gallery Apartments on Gloucester Street. A 'No entry' sign has been placed on the security fencing.
A digger at the demolition site of the Gallery Apartments on Gloucester Street. A 'No entry' sign has been placed on the security fencing.
The gutted Canterbury Pacific Trust building on Worcester Street, viewed from behind security fencing. Desks and other debris can be seen at the entrance.
People taking pictures of an uprooted tree near the Avon River. The tree has fallen onto a shipping container and security fence beside it.
The damaged Bridge of Remembrance on Cashel Street. The bridge is surrounded by scaffolding. A security fence placed around the site to restrict access.
The damaged Bridge of Remembrance on Cashel Street. The bridge is surrounded by scaffolding. A security fence placed around the site to restrict access.
Broken and open windows in the Canterbury Pacific Trust building on Worcester Street, viewed from behind security fencing. The interior of the building has been gutted.
A broken window in the Canterbury Pacific Trust building on Worcester Street, viewed from behind security fencing. The interior of the building has been gutted.
A damaged building on Liverpool Street. A sign in the window reads, 'Our family home'. Security fencing has been placed around the building to restrict access.
A member of the Security Team eats an icrecream from the Random Acts of Kindness of Campus, an initiative on Campus after the progressive restart.
Photograph captioned by the New Zealand Defence Force, "The NZ Defence Force helps out after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Army and Air Force Medics as well as Hercules crew and Air Security transfer elderly patients from NZDF ambulances to the Air Force's C-130 Hercules for transport to other parts of NZ. LAC Brendon Stads (left) and SGT Simon Blakeway transfer an elderly patient".
Photograph captioned by the New Zealand Defence Force, "The NZ Defence Force helps out after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Army and Air Force Medics as well as Hercules crew and Air Security transfer elderly patients from NZDF ambulances to the Air Force's C-130 Hercules for transport to other parts of NZ. LAC Janine Potter (left) and SGT Sarah Miller comfort an elderly patient".
Photograph captioned by the New Zealand Defence Force, "The NZ Defence Force helps out after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Army and Air Force Medics as well as Hercules crew and Air Security transfer elderly patients from NZDF ambulances to the Air Force's C-130 Hercules for transport to other parts of NZ. LAC Russell Cowling and WO1 Tim Crow help carry a patient to the Hercules".
Photograph captioned by the New Zealand Defence Force, "The NZ Defence Force helps out after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Army and Air Force Medics as well as Hercules crew and Air Security transfer elderly patients from NZDF ambulances to the Air Force's C-130 Hercules for transport to other parts of NZ. LAC Russell Cowling (left) and SGT Marian Anderson (centre) help transfer a patient to the Hercules".
Photograph captioned by the New Zealand Defence Force, "The NZ Defence Force helps out after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Army and Air Force Medics as well as Hercules crew and Air Security transfer elderly patients from NZDF ambulances to the Air Force's C-130 Hercules for transport to other parts of NZ. SGT Sarah Miller and LAC Janine Potter prepare an elderly patient for transfer".
Photograph captioned by the New Zealand Defence Force, "The NZ Defence Force helps out after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Army and Air Force Medics as well as Hercules crew and Air Security transfer elderly patients from NZDF ambulances to the Air Force's C-130 Hercules for transport to other parts of NZ. WO1 Tim Crow (left) prepares to lift a patient onto the Hercules".
Photograph captioned by the New Zealand Defence Force, "The NZ Defence Force helps out after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Army and Air Force Medics as well as Hercules crew and Air Security transfer elderly patients from NZDF ambulances to the Air Force's C-130 Hercules for transport to other parts of NZ. LAC Brendon Stads (left) and WO1 Tim Crow help transfer an elderly patient onto the Hercules".
Members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Air Security team preparing to evacuate Christchurch rest home residents affected by the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
Vice Chancellor Rod Carr preparing to enter and retrieve his work from the 6th floor of the Registry Building, with an emergency and security staff member.
A crane and a digger demolish the Gallery Apartments building on Gloucester Street. A sign that reads, 'Road closed' has been placed in front of the security fencing.
A view of Cashel Street from the High Street intersection. An empty demolition site where a building once stood has been cordoned off with security fencing.
Reinforcement steel protrudes from a bank which is supporting a walkway on Sumner Road. The area has been cordoned off with road cones and security fencing.
Despite Government attempts to play down reports that officers of the Israeli security agency Mossad were caught up in the Christchurch earthquake, several questions remain today.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Ian Town preparing to enter and retrieve his work from the 6th floor of the Registry Building, with an emergency and security staff member.
A sign tied to the security fence surrounding Shands Emporium shows a heart made up of photographs of faces, and the words "Share your smile, share your love".
A view down Gloucester Street. The NewsTalkZB building can be partially seen on the left, and the Manchester Securities House in the middle is being demolished.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Ian Town preparing to enter and retrieve his work from the 6th floor of the Registry Building, with an emergency and security staff member.
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The front of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Security fencing has been placed around the building to restrict access".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The front of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Security fencing has been placed around the building to restrict access".