This study analyses the success and limitations of the recovery process following the 2010–11 earthquake sequence in Christchurch, New Zealand. Data were obtained from in-depth interviews with 32 relocated households in Christchurch, and from a review of recovery policies implemented by the government. A top-down approach to disaster recovery was evident, with the creation of multiple government agencies and processes that made grassroots input into decision-making difficult. Although insurance proceeds enabled the repair and rebuilding of many dwellings, the complexity and adversarial nature of the claim procedures also impaired recovery. Householders’ perceptions of recovery reflected key aspects of their post-earthquake experiences (e.g. the housing offer they received, and the negotiations involved), and the outcomes of their relocation (including the value of the new home, their subjective well-being, and lifestyle after relocation). Protracted insurance negotiations, unfair offers and hardships in post-earthquake life were major challenges to recovery. Less-thanfavourable recovery experiences also transformed patterns of trust in local communities, as relocated householders came to doubt both the government and private insurance companies’ ability to successfully manage a disaster. At the same time, many relocated households expressed trust in their neighbours and communities. This study illuminates how government policies influence disaster recovery while also suggesting a need to reconsider centralised, top-down approaches to managing recovery.
A pdf transcript of Jeff Davies's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. The interview was conducted via Zoom. Interviewer: Joshua Black. Transcriber: Lauren Millar.
A pdf transcript of Kate Lambert's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Samuel Hope. Transcriber: Lauren Millar.
A pdf transcript of Participant Number LY191's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Joshua Black. Transcriber: Caleb Middendorf.
A pdf transcript of Part 1 of Tracey Waiariki's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Lucy Denham. Transcriber: Lucy Denham.
A pdf transcript of Vic Bartley's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Samuel Hope. Transcriber: Sarah Woodfield.
A pdf transcript of Bev McCashin's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. The interview was conducted via Zoom. Interviewer: Laura Moir. Transcriber: Lauren Millar.
A pdf transcript of Chris's second earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox Take 2 project. Interviewer: Joshua Black. Transcriber: Caleb Middendorf.
In the last two decades, New Zealand (NZ) has experienced significant earthquakes, including the 2010 M 7.2 Darfield, 2011 M 6.2 Christchurch, and 2016 M 7.8 Kaikōura events. Amongst these large events, tens of thousands of smaller earthquakes have occurred. While previous event and ground-motion databases have analyzed these events, many events below M 4 have gone undetected. The goal of this study is to expand on previous databases, particularly for small magnitude (M<4) and low-amplitude ground motions. This new database enables a greater understanding of regional variations within NZ and contributes to the validity of internationally developed ground-motion models. The database includes event locations and magnitude estimates with uncertainty considerations, and tectonic type assessed in a hierarchical manner. Ground motions are extracted from the GeoNet FDSN server and assessed for quality using a neural network classification approach. A deep neural network approach is also utilized for picking P and S phases for determination of event hypocentres. Relative hypocentres are further improved by double-difference relocation and will contribute toward developing shallow (< 50 km) seismic tomography models. Analysis of the resulting database is compared with previous studies for discussion of implications toward national hazard prediction models.
