To the casual observer, community gardens may look like places where people just come to grow fruit and vegetables. Through digging beneath surface appearances, however, the research literature suggests that there is more to the creation of and participation in community gardens than that which is immediately apparent. The overall aim of this research was to explore and interpret the meaning of community gardens in terms of the sought and experienced well-being of the individuals who participate, and their associated communities. This research was undertaken in the Christchurch/Selwyn district, in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes of 2010-2011. This research utilised the technique of photo-elicitation interviews to study the meanings attributed to community gardening, in the post-earthquake environment. Five gardens were investigated. Results show that a range of meanings, and well-being outcomes are experienced through a combination of physical, educational, aesthetic appreciation, contemplative, creative and social connections within the garden and within the overall context of nature. Significantly, within the post-earthquake environment, the community gardens can offer participants the opportunity to appreciate life and what it means for them.
A document made available to people attending Duncan Gibb's Brunel lecture.
People have written messages and signed their names on the stones
A photograph of people (including three 'All Righties') posing with large coloured signs. The signs have various compliments on them, directed at the people of Canterbury. All Right? posted the photograph on their Facebook page on 17 December 2013 at 10:25am.
A photograph of people dancing on the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat during FESTA 2014.
A photograph of people dancing on the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat during FESTA 2014.
And when the devastating 6.3 magnitude quake hit Christchurch, people turned to Radio New Zealand for news.
Fifteen hundred people in Christchurch are without power tonight and more than a hundred homes evacuated after a 'once in a hundred year flood'.
A PDF copy of a newsletter sent by All Right? to their mailing list in June 2014.
Indigenous Peoples retain traditional coping strategies for disasters despite the marginalisation of many Indigenous communities. This article describes the response of Māori to the Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2012 through analyses of available statistical data and reports, and interviews done three months and one year after the most damaging event. A significant difference between Māori and ‘mainstream’ New Zealand was the greater mobility enacted by Māori throughout this period, with organisations having roles beyond their traditional catchments throughout the disaster, including important support for non-Māori. Informed engagement with Indigenous communities, acknowledging their internal diversity and culturally nuanced support networks, would enable more efficient disaster responses in many countries.
A photograph of people dancing on the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat during Dance-O-Rama. This event was part of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of people dancing on the Gap Filler Dance-O-Mat during Dance-O-Rama. This event was part of FESTA 2014.
A video clip of people visiting CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A video clip of people visiting CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A video clip of people visiting CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A video clip of people visiting CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A video clip of people visiting CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A video clip of people visiting CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of a painting on the wall of a brick building. The artwork depicts a group of people sitting around a birthday cake.
The EQC has got the green light to start settling the claims of thousands of Christchurch people whose homes became more at risk of flooding after the earthquakes.
Christchurch people who have had to battle insurance companies over the repair or rebuild of earthquake damaged homes are welcoming the Labour party's idea of an earthquake court to settle disputes.
A photograph of people working on large-scale, architectural structures for CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A photograph of people playing backyard cricket on Manchester Street, before CityUps - a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A project manager for a company doing home repairs in the Christchurch earthquake rebuild says it is highly likely as many as 60-thousand people have been exposed to potentially lethal asbestos fibres.
A photograph of people playing with a parachute at CityUps. CityUps was a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
People often ask what we’re learning as a result of all this post-earthquake archaeology. Quite a lot, as this blog reveals. But, to date, the blog has focused on the individual sites and/or stories – there’s not been much of … Continue reading →
A video clip of young people playing volleyball on Manchester Street during CityUps. CityUps was a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
A video clip of young people playing volleyball on Manchester Street during CityUps. CityUps was a 'city of the future for one night only', and the main event of FESTA 2014.
Training and working as an archaeologist can be an interesting experience, not just because of the work we do, but thanks to the preconceptions and opinions of the people around us. Like so many other professions, archaeology is an extremely … Continue reading →
Topics - The Parole Board has decided that Teina Pora should be released from prison. Pora has served 21 years of a life sentence for murdering and raping Susan Burdett in Auckland in 1992. He continues to protest his innocence, and he'll appear before the Privy Council in London at the end of the year in an effort to clear his name. A coroner's report criticises almost every aspect of the Fire Service's response to the CTV building collapse that killed 115 people in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Gordon Matenga says more people, more resources, better communication and a better structure might have improved the chances of saving more lives that day.