An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 12 September 2010 entitled, "Volunteer Quake-catchers".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 31 December 2011 entitled, "Awareness or Apprehension?".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's Blog for 11 January 2014 entitled, "Sumner Sirens".
A sign warning of contaminated water lies on the ground. The sign reads "Warning, contaminated water. Due to Sewage Overflows the water is unsafe for human contact and activity and is a Public Health Risk. Please keep all people and pets out of contact with the water and do not consume any seafood or shellfish collected from this area." The photographer comments, "The sign for contaminated water has fallen, but the warning should still be heeded".
Cartoons about political and social issues in New Zealand and overseas. The cartoon has the words 'Tsunami Warning cancelled' in the centre. Above are the words 'The end is nigh... insurance running out! No more cover!' Below the word 'cancelled' are the words 'We have reinsurance!' Context - Civil Defence has cancelled a tsunami warning after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the Kermadec Islands this morning (7 July 2011) The tsunami image is used to illustrate the problems that could arise from lack of insurance in Christchurch. When their policies run out on 30 June Earthquake-hit Christchurch and Waimakariri councils are in danger of having no property insurance because as the CEO of Civic Assurance, which insures most councils, says, 'the company cannot buy reinsurance'. There was also a potential problem for home-owners when AMI Insurance, the largest insurer of homes in Christchurch, was threatening insolvency. However, AMI has announced that it has re-insurance cover for earthquakes and other natural disasters from tomorrow (1 July 2011) for the next year. The Government feared AMI Insurance's directors would wind up the company affecting a huge section of New Zealand's insurance market and derail the reconstruction of Christchurch, official documents confirm. AMI said it had doubled its cover for the year to June 2012 after three large quakes in the year to June 2011. (Stuff 30 June 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The cartoon suggests that the Kiwi character has too much of a 'She'll be right' attitude. Refers to a 1996 documentary called 'Earthquake!' which outlined the effects of a major earthquake on Christchurch's eastern suburbs and heritage buildings. The director Grant Dixon says lives could have been saved if officials had heeded the film's warnings. (Stuff: 11 March 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
The Earthquake Recovery Minister says this is a final warning for the Christchurch City Council.
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 28 July 2011 entitled, "Water Warning".
Surging oil prices and the impact of devastating earthquakes in Christchurch and Japan have prompted Air Zealand to issue a profit warning.
There's a warning that a return to pre-earthquake numbers of houses in Christchurch may not be enough to ease the city's housing crisis.
Public bus tours of Christchurch's red zone will start off with a warning that the passengers could be trapped by an earthquake and may not make it out alive.
The warnings, or lack of them from the government's scientists about the likely size of aftershocks following the first Canterbury earthquake have been a focus of the Royal Commission into the quakes.
A map showing the location of tsunami warning systems.
Shows a new warning system in Christchurch that consists of the heads of Gerry Brownlee, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister, the Mayor of Christchurch Bob Parker and CERA CEO Roger Sutton. Each bellows his particular mantra. Context: Christchurch's new tsunami warning system will be tested on Sunday 22 July at 11am for one to two minutes. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch streets, Avonside Drive road warning sign".
Regional civil defence says listen to national centre, not pacific; Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre - "warning" too confusing; Union plans legal action against Earthquake Commission; Auckland DHB avoids possible legal action over smoking complaint; 7.6 quake triggered near Kermadec Islands; NIWA says National Oceans Strategy urgently needed; and 27 Christchurch bakers lose their jobs.
New Zealanders are paying too much for house and contents insurance, according to a new survey. Consumer NZ's price comparison survey shows climate and natural hazard risk is being factored in, and is more expensive than ever. Quotes for a large house differed by more than $3,000 across Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and there's a more than $2,000 difference between the cheapest and most expensive policies on offer for a standard-sized house. If you live somewhere with a higher chance of earthquakes - such as Wellington or Christchurch - you'll be charged more for insurance. The cost of house and contents insurance has risen by 5.6% this year, over the past ten years it's gone up 150%. Kathryn is joined by Consumer NZ's Gemma Rasmussen and Katrina Shanks Chief Executive of Financial Advice New Zealand, which represents independent and professional financial advisors.
Opposition parties fear a new department to control the rebuilding of Christchurch will be Wellington-centric and not allow the community to have its fair say in decisions. The Labour Party's spokesperson on the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, Clayton Cosgrove, spoke to our political editor Brent Edwards.
Those clearing up earthquake-damaged buildings in Canterbury are being warned to beware of asbestos.
The New Zealand Shipping Federation says the government needs to take the resilience of ports seriously as the Kaikoura earthquake has shown the vulnerability of roading - and consider what their role is when auditing them. Annabel Young is the Executive Director of the NZ Shipping Federation. Canterbury University Professor of Geological Sciences Tim Davies, says improving and increasing the transport network through coastal shipping is essential.
Warning tape on the gate of a residential property near Cranmer Square. The photographer comments, "The yellow tape was put on the gate to warn property [owners] that the house beyond was unsafe. Now there is no house, but by the cobwebs on the handle the tape is doing a great job".
A warning sign about contaminated water is nailed to a tree next to the Avon River on River Road.
Public and private insurers are warning the damage from Canterbury's series of earthquakes will have economic impact for years.
A sign on the fence at St John's Church in Hororata reads "Warning. Beware of fallen debris and unstable structures in cemetery".
Earthquakes in Christchurch are not unusual events, we’ve been beset with them since European settlement began – and no doubt long before. What is most disturbing of all is that our Eur…
The Law Society is warning disruption to services following last month's earthquake in Christchurch is likely to lead to a massive bottleneck of court cases.
Mental health experts in Christchurch are warning the worst could be still to come for people suffering from anxiety, depression and stress related to the earthquakes.
Recent tsunami events have highlighted the importance of effective tsunami risk management strategies (including land-use planning, structural and natural mitigation, warning systems, education and evacuation planning). However, the rarity of tsunami means that empirical data concerning reactions to tsunami warnings and evacuation behaviour is rare when compared to findings for evacuations from other hazards. More knowledge is required to document the full evacuation process, including responses to warnings, pre-evacuation actions, evacuation dynamics, and the return home. Tsunami evacuation modelling has the potential to inform evidence-based tsunami risk planning and response. However, to date, tsunami evacuation models have largely focused on the timings of evacuations, rather than behaviours of those evacuating. In this research, survey data was gathered from coastal communities in Banks Peninsula and Christchurch, New Zealand, relating to behaviours and actions during the November 14th 2016 Kaikōura earthquake tsunami. Survey questions asked about immediate actions following the earthquake shaking, reactions to tsunami warnings, pre-evacuation actions, evacuation dynamics and details on congestion. This data was analysed to characterise trends and identify factors that influenced evacuation actions and behaviour, and was further used to develop a realistic evacuation model prototype to evaluate the capacity of the roading network in Banks Peninsula during a tsunami evacuation. The evacuation model incorporated tsunami risk management strategies that have been implemented by local authorities, and exposure and vulnerability data, alongside the empirical data collected from the survey. This research enhances knowledge of tsunami evacuation behaviour and reactions to tsunami warnings, and can be used to refine evacuation planning to ensure that people can evacuate efficiently, thereby reducing their tsunami exposure and personal risk.
The Christchurch City Council has received a strong warning from the Earthquake Recovery Minister to speed up its processing of building consents or lose its power to authorise consents.
The declaration by the Finance Minister that all spending is now under review has prompted warnings that the Christchurch earthquake should not be used to push through unpopular policies.