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Images, eqnz.chch.2010

File reference: CCL-2011-04-08-Lyttelton-Library-P1110825 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries Photos of Lyttelton Library on Friday 8 April, the day it re-opened after the February 22 earthquake.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A sign on a shop window in the CBD reads, "Due to unforseen circumstances we are closed. We will endeavour to open ASAP. Be safe!". Collapsed buildings can be seen reflected in the window glass.

Images, eqnz.chch.2010

Open for business. Photos taken in Diamond Harbour Library on May 24, 2011 following the February 22 earthquake. File reference: CCL-2011-05-24-Diamond Harbour-After-The-Earthquake-IMG_15 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of the former Central Library on Gloucester Street. The entrance has been boarded up with plywood and the footpath is covered in dead leaves. To the left, a sign reading 'Library Open' is still standing outside.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Fallen potplants and jumbled paving bricks outside Stewart Dawsons in Cashel Mall. A public walkway down Colombo Street to a small viewing area in the Square was opened up for a few weekends to allow the public to see inside the Red Zone.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Weeds growing through the paving outside the old Post Office building in Cathedral Square. A public walkway through to a small viewing area in the Square was opened up for a few weekends to allow the public to see inside the Red Zone.

Research papers, Victoria University of Wellington

Museums around the world are often affected by major catastrophes, and yet planning for these disasters is an often neglected aspect of museum practice. New Zealand is not immune from these events, as can be seen in the recent series of serious earthquakes in Christchurch in 2010 and 2011. This dissertation considers how prepared the New Zealand museum sector is to handle unexpected events that negatively affect its buildings, staff, operations and treasured collections. The central research question was: What is the overall state of emergency planning in the New Zealand museum sector? There was a significant gap in the literature, especially in the local context, as there has been only one other comparable study conducted in Britain, and nothing locally. This dissertation makes a valuable contribution to the field of museum studies by drawing on theory from relevant areas such as crises management literature and by conducting original empirical research on a topic which has received little attention hitherto. The research employed a number of methods, including a review of background secondary sources, a survey and interviews. After contextualising the study with a number of local examples, Ian online survey was then developed an which enabled precise understanding of the nature of current museum practices and policies around emergency planning. Following this I conducted several interviews with museum professionals from a variety of institutional backgrounds which explored their thoughts and feelings behind the existing practices within the industry. The findings of the research were significant and somewhat alarming: almost 40% of the museum and galleries in New Zealand do not have any emergency plan at all, and only 11% have what they considered ‘complete’ plans. The research revealed a clear picture of the current width and depth of planning, as well as practices around updating the plans and training related to them. Within the industry there is awareness that planning for emergencies is important, but museum staff typically lack the knowledge and guidance needed to conduct effective emergency planning. As a result of the analysis, several practical suggestions are presented aimed at improving emergency planning practices in New Zealand museums. However this study has implications for museum studies and for current museum practice everywhere, as many of the recommendations for resolving the current obstacles and problems are applicable anywhere in the world, suggesting that New Zealand museums could become leaders in this important area.