The Master of Engineering Management Project was sponsored by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) and consisted of two phases: The first was an analysis of existing information detailing the effects of hazardous natural events on Canterbury Lifeline Utilities in the past 15 years. The aim of this “Lessons Learned” project was to produce an analysis report that identified key themes from the research, gaps in the existing data and to provide recommendations from these “Lessons Learned.” The Second phase was the development of a practical “Disaster Mitigation Guideline” that outlined lessons in the field of Emergency Sanitation. This research would build upon the first stage and would draw from international reference to develop a guideline that has practical implementation possibilities throughout the world.
Earthquake events can be sudden, stressful, unpredictable, and uncontrollable events in which an individual’s internal and external assumptions of their environment may be disrupted. A number of studies have found depression, and other psychological symptoms may be common after natural disasters. They have also found an association between depression, losses and disruptions for survivors. The present study compared depression symptoms in two demographically matched communities differentially affected by the Canterbury (New Zealand) earthquakes. Hypotheses were informed by the theory of learned helplessness (Abramson, Seligman & Teasdale, 1978). A door-to-door survey was conducted in a more physically affected community sample (N=67) and a relatively unaffected community sample (N=67), 4 months after the February 2011 earthquake. Participants were again assessed approximately 10 months after the quake. Measures of depression, acute stress, anxiety, aftershock anxiety, losses, physical disruptions and psychological disruptions were taken. In addition, prior psychological symptoms, medication, alcohol and cigarette use were assessed. Participants in the more affected community reported higher depression scores than the less affected community. Overall, elevated depressive score at time 2 were predicted by depression at time 1, acute stress and anxiety symptoms at time 2, physical disruptions following the quake and psychosocial functioning disruptions at time 2. These results suggest the influence of acute stress, anxiety and disruptions in predicting depression sometime after an earthquake. Supportive interventions directed towards depression, and other psychological symptoms, may prove helpful in psychological adjustment following ongoing disruptive stressors and uncontrollable seismic activity.
A photograph of the 'Thinking Outside the Square' installation in the window of the Beggs Music building on Colombo Street.
A photograph of volunteers at the Info Gap temporary outdoor display space on the corner of Peterborough and Colombo Streets.
A photograph of the empty site on the corner of Peterborough and Colombo Streets where the Info Gap temporary outdoor display space will be constructed.
A photograph of volunteers constructing the Info Gap temporary outdoor display space on the corner of Peterborough and Colombo Streets.
A photograph of people looking at displays in the Info Gap temporary outdoor display space on the corner of Peterborough and Colombo Streets.
A photograph of people looking at displays in the Info Gap temporary outdoor display space on the corner of Peterborough and Colombo Streets.
A photograph of the 'Thinking Outside the Square' installation in the window of the Beggs Music building on Colombo Street.
A photograph of a truck delivering soil for a beach garden in New Brighton.
A photograph of the 'Thinking Outside the Square' installation in the window of the Beggs Music building on Colombo Street.
A photograph of volunteers preparing the site for Foamapalooza.
A photograph of a meeting being held in the Central Library Peterborough.
A photograph of an installation titled 'Halo', which is part of the LUXCITY event.
A photograph of volunteers holding the foam blocks which will be used to create Foamapalooza.
A photograph of furniture on the site of Christchurch: A Board Game.
A Burnside woman who's been helping tangata whenua has received a Christchurch Earthquake Award; The country's biggest Maori performance event is coming to Christchurch in 2015; The Ministry of Education will help fund up to 40 Te Pumaomao nation-building courses this year; One of New Zealand's most influential Maori academics is one of six recipients of Auckland University's 2012 Distinguished Alumni Awards.
A video of a press conference about the ChristChurch Cathedral. The video includes statements by Jim Anderton and Stefano Pampanin, Associate Professor of Engineering at the University of Canterbury. Anderton and Pampanin discuss a report produced by the Great Christchurch Buildings Trust (GCBT) which outlines how the cathedral could be safely restored. The Anglican Church has agreed to review the report.
A photograph of students from the Student Volunteer Army and Entré with a sign reading, 'Churchill Park'.
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A photograph of volunteers digging soil to construct a BMX track.
A photograph of a person playing hockey in a street football arena built by Student Volunteer Army volunteers.
A photograph of foam blocks and tires stacked on wooden pallets on the site of Foamapalooza.
A photograph of volunteers preparing the site for Foamapalooza. In the foreground, a sign describes the project.
A photograph of an installation titled 'Murmur'. The installation is part of the LUXCITY event. Tutor: Craig Moller
For many years the Heathcote-Avon estuary was the dumping ground for Christchurch's sewage. Then, in 2010, the wastewater was diverted well out to sea, via a long pipe. David Schiel from the University of Canterbury and John Zeldis from NIWA were investigating the effects of this diversion on the health of estuary when the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes happened, re-engineering both the estuary and their experiments.
The country's biggest Maori performance event is coming to Christchurch in 2015; A Burnside woman who's been helping tangata whenua has received a Christchurch Earthquake Award; The Ministry of Education will help fund up to 40 Te Pumaomao nation-building courses this year; and One of New Zealand's most influential Maori academics is one of six recipients of Auckland University's 2012 Distinguished Alumni Awards.
A photograph of an installation titled 'In Your Face'. The installation is part of the LUXCITY event. Tutor: Fraser Horton
An artist's impression of the installation 'eLITE', created as part of the LUXCITY event. Tutors: Cameron Rowe, Kate Rogan
A photograph of bricks laid as a pathway in Churchill Park. Each brick has a message written on it.