Canterbury (Darfield) Earthquake Sequence - Social Theme
David Johnston 22 Oct
Over one hundred social researchers, from thirty organisations, are involved in research following the earthquake. Over the last month, many have been working directly in partnership with key agencies, for example MSD, MoH and MCDEM and the Recovery Groups. In most cases this input has built on existing long-term relationships and networks.
Researchers have registered on a database and have agreed to coordinate activities within four working groups. Working group coordinators have been selected based on nominations (both self and external) following the teleconference held in late September. Each group has at least one coordinator for Canterbury plus two others.
Working groups and coordinators:Working group 1. Business and insurance sector response and recovery: Erica Seville (University of Canterbury), Felicity Powell (Opus), Shona van Zijll de Jong (NIWA).
Working Group 2. Community resilience (preparedness, response, recovery, psychosocial issues): Tom Wilson (University of Canterbury), Julia Becker (GNS), Susan Jolley (MSD).
Working Group 3. Emergency response (includes emergency management response, welfare provision, etc): Jon Mitchell (Canterbury CDEM), Kim Wright (GNS), Jared Thomas (Opus).
Working Group 4. Recovery policy and practice (e.g. land use planning, debris disposal, built environment reconstruction): Charlotte Brown (University of Canterbury), Bruce Glavovic (Massey University), Wendy Saunders (GNS).
Originations involved include: Auckland Unitec, Central Queensland University, EQC, GNS Science, Kestrel Group, Market Economics, Massey University, Women’s Refuge, MCDEM, MSD, NIWA, Opus, UCL, University of Auckland, University of British Columbia, University of Canterbury, University of Tasmania, Victoria University, ECan, Ecan/Canterbury CDEM Group, AUT, Otago University, Alexander Turnbull Library, Lincoln University, Save the Children, ACC, MoH, the DHBs.
Research is focused around a number of key questions, such as:What are the consequences of the earthquake on individuals, communities and organisations, over varying timeframes?What are the societal factors that influence community resilience to the impacts of earthquake?What are the trends and emerging issues in Canterbury that influence vulnerability to and recovery from the earthquake?What is the vulnerability to the economy of the earthquake and how do factors such as the economic structure, stage of development, prevalent economic conditions and the policy environment play a role in that vulnerability and recovery?What are the processes by which society transitions, recovers and adapts (and how can these be enhanced) after the disruption caused by the earthquake? How effective are (were) emergency management procedures, and crisis management practices for managing societal response to earthquake?What are the strategies for improving resilience and how do we ‘get these into’ governance, planning (including land use), policy, organisational, economic, and legislative systems and frameworks?How can hazard science be better understood, applied, managed and utilised as an integral part of the planning, risk and adaptive management processes?
For a list of the current and proposed projects contact Julia Becker
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