In the last two decades, the retail sector has experienced unprecedented upheaval, having severe implications for economic development and sustenance of traditional inner-city retail districts. In the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, this effect has been exacerbated by a series of earthquakes in 2010/2011 which destroyed much of the traditional retail precinct of the city. After extensive rebuild activity of the city’s infrastructure, the momentum of retailers returning to the inner city was initially sluggish but eventually gathered speed supported by increased international visitation. In early 2020, the return to retail normality came to an abrupt halt after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study uses spending and transaction data to analyze the compounding impact of the earthquake’s aftermath, shift to online shopping, and the retail disruption in the Christchurch central retail precinct because of COVID-19. The findings illustrate how consumers through their spending respond to different types of external shocks, altering their consumption patterns and retail mode (offline and online) to cope with an ever-changing retail landscape. Each event triggers different spending patterns that have some similarities but also stark differences, having implications for a sustainable and resilient retail industry in Christchurch. Implications for urban retail precinct development are also discussed.
Numerous rockfalls released during the 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence affected vital road sections for local commuters. We quantified rockfall fatality risk on two main routes by adapting a risk approach for roads originally developed for snow avalanche risk. We present results of the collective and individual fatality risks for traffic flow and waiting traffic. Waiting traffic scenarios particularly address the critical spatial-temporal dynamics of risk, which should be acknowledged in operational risk management. Comparing our results with other risks commonly experienced in New Zealand indicates that local rockfall risk is close to tolerability thresholds and likely exceeds acceptable risk.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.
A photograph contributed by Erin Harrington, a participant in the Understanding Place research project.