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Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

On 15 August 1868, a great earthquake struck off the coast of the Chile-Peru border generating a tsunami that travelled across the Pacific. Wharekauri-Rekohu-Chatham Islands, located 800 km east of Christchurch, Aotearoa-New Zealand (A-NZ) was one of the worst affected locations in A-NZ. Tsunami waves, including three over 6 metres high, injured and killed people, destroyed buildings and infrastructure, and impacted the environment, economy and communities. While experience of disasters, and advancements in disaster risk reduction systems and technology have all significantly advanced A-NZ’s capacity to be ready for and respond to future earthquakes and tsunami, social memory of this event and other tsunamis during our history has diminished. In 2018, a team of scientists, emergency managers and communication specialists collaborated to organise a memorial event on the Chatham Islands and co-ordinate a multi-agency media campaign to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1868 Arica tsunami. The purpose was to raise awareness of the disaster and to encourage preparedness for future tsunami. Press releases and science stories were distributed widely by different media outlets and many attended the memorial event indicating public interest for commemorating historical disasters. We highlight the importance of commemorating disaster anniversaries through memorial events, to raise awareness of historical disasters and increase community preparedness for future events – “lest we forget and let us learn.”

Research papers, University of Canterbury Library

It is not a matter of if a major earthquake will happen in New Zealand, it is when. Earthquakes wreak havoc, cut off power and water supply, lines of communication, sewer, supply chains, and transport infrastructure. People get injured and whole communities can get cut off the rest of the country for extended periods of time. Countries taking measures to increase the population's preparedness tend to suffer less severe consequences than those that do not. Disaster management authorities deliver comprehensive instructions and preparation guidance, yet communities remain grossly underprepared. There are multiple factors that influence motivation for preparedness. Personal experience is one of the most significant factors that influence preparedness motivation. Not many people will experience a severe and damaging earthquake in their lifetime. A serious game (SG) that is a computer simulation of an earthquake is a tool that can let participants experience the earthquake and its aftermath from the safety of their computer. The main result of this research is a positive answer to the question: Can a serious game motivate people to prepare for earthquakes at least just as good as a personal experience of at least a moderate earthquake? There are different levels of immersion this serious game can be implemented at. In this thesis the same earthquake experience scenario – SG “ShakeUp” is implemented as a desktop application and a virtual reality (VR) application. A user study is conducted with the aim of comparing the motivation level achieved by the two versions of the SG “ShakeUp”. In this study no benefits of using VR over traditional desktop application were found: participants trying both versions of the SG “ShakeUp” reported similar levels of motivation to prepare for earthquakes immediately after the experiment. This means that both versions of the experience were equally effective in motivating participants to prepare for earthquakes. An additional benefit of this result is that the cheaper and easier to deliver desktop version can be widely used in various education campaigns. Participants reported being more motivated to prepare for earthquakes by either version of the SG “ShakeUp” than by any other contributing factor, including their previous earthquake experience or participation in a public education campaign. Both versions of the SG “ShakeUp” can successfully overcome personal bias, unrealistic optimism, pessimism, lack of perceived control over one’s earthquake preparation actions, fatalism, and sense of helplessness in the face of the earthquakes and motivate the individual to prepare for earthquakes. Participants without the prior earthquake experience benefit most from the SG “ShakeUp” regardless of the version tried, compared to the participants who had experienced an earthquake: significantly more of them will reconsider their current level of earthquake preparedness; about 24% more of them attribute their increased level of motivation to prepare for earthquakes to the SG “ShakeUp”. For every earthquake preparation action there is about 25% more people who felt motivated to do it after trying the SG “ShakeUp” than those who have done this preparation action before the experiment. After trying either version of the SG “ShakeUp”, people who live in a free standing house and those who live in a rental property reported highest levels of intent to carry on with the preparation actions. The proposed application prototype has been discussed with the University of Canterbury Earthquake Centre and received very positive feedback as having potential for practical use by various disaster management authorities and training institutions. The research shows that the SG “ShakeUp” motivates people to prepare for earthquakes as good as a personal earthquake experience and can be successfully used in various education campaigns.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a Canterbury Rollercoaster fridge magnet. The Canterbury Rollercoaster was designed to raise awareness around emotional literacy in Canterbury. The photograph was uploaded as a cover photo on the All Right? Facebook page on 3 September 2014 at 6:28pm.

Audio, Radio New Zealand

Deborah Nation recalls how it was in the Sound Archives and Radio New Zealand offices in Christchurch on the day of the February earthquake. The building on the corner of Durham and Chester Street West has been condemned. Please be aware that the first sounds of this report may be upsetting, especially to listenners who experienced the earthquake.

Audio, Radio New Zealand

After the devastating effects on Christchurch, we are all aware of the damage earthquakes can cause. But in New Zealand, a tsunami could be just as damaging. University of Auckland engineers Asaad Shamseldin and PhD student Reza Shafiei are creating waves in the lab to work out how safe our buildings are, if a tsunami hits. Ruth Beran goes to visit them.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a Canterbury Rollercoaster fridge magnet, which was used as a cover photo on the All Right? Facebook page. The Canterbury Rollercoaster was designed to raise awareness around emotional literacy in Canterbury. All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 2 May 2014 at 8:53am.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

An image advertising the All Right? Canterbury Rollercoaster fridge magnet set, which was designed to raise awareness around emotional literacy in Canterbury. The image was used as a profile picture on the All Right? Facebook page. The image was also posted to Facebook by All Right? on 21 July 2014 at 11:00am.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

An image promoting the 'Canterbury Rollercoaster' poster and magnet set that were available from the All Right? website. The image includes a description of the 'Canterbury Rollercoaster' and instructions on how to get one from the All Right? website. The 'Canterbury Rollercoaster' was designed to raise awareness about emotional literacy in Canterbury.

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

A PDF copy of a design for the side of an escalator near a Glassons store. The file includes the precise measurements and specifications. The design depicts the 'Canterbury Rollercoaster' and reads, "Life's full of ups and downs. Where are you, your friends, and your whanau at? Visit allright.org.nz". The 'Canterbury Rollercoaster' was designed to raise awareness about emotional literacy in Canterbury.

Articles, UC QuakeStudies

A PDF copy of a design for the side of an escalator near a Hoyts movie theatre. The file includes the precise measurements and specifications. The design depicts the 'Canterbury Rollercoaster' and reads, "Life's full of ups and downs. Where are you, your friends, and your whanau at? Visit allright.org.nz". The 'Canterbury Rollercoaster' was designed to raise awareness about emotional literacy in Canterbury.

Audio, Radio New Zealand

National MP Gerry Brownlee says it's a great tragedy that the former chairman of government insurer Southern Response has been treated the way that he has. Ross Butler resigned on Tuesday night after a State Services Commission inquiry found Southern Response had broken its code of conduct and possibly the law, when it used private investigators to secretly record meetings of earthquake victims. The Minister for Christchurch Regeneration Megan Woods says Mr Butler was aware of what was going on, as was Mr Brownlee when he was a Minister.

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Director of Gap Filler, Coralie Winn, setting up a sign in front of 832 Colombo Street. The sign reads, "Welcome! This site was home to South of the Border (Mexican Restaurant) and Denis Moore, Auto Electrician. Please keep your shoes on! Please be aware that the ground is uneven. Local by-laws applies - no alcohol on the street. For safety, we cannot over-crowd the site. ROAR. Please do buy a coffee, a cake and bring a picnic to enjoy. Thanks. Gap Filler".