Gaining ‘authority to operate’: Student‐led emergent volunteers and establ…

Research papers, Lincoln University

There is growing expectation that local volunteers will play a more integrated role in disaster response, yet emergent groups are often ‘outsiders’ to crisis management, prompting questions of the conditions and processes by which these groups can forge relationships with established response agencies, and the tensions which can arise those interactions. This article analyses how student-led volunteers, as an emergent group, nevertheless gained “authority to operate” in the aftermath of the 2010-2011 earthquakes in Canterbury, New Zealand. Our study demonstrates how established response agencies and emergent groups can form hugely impactful and mutually supportive relationships. However, our analysis also points to two interrelated tensions that can arise, regarding the terms by which emergent groups are recognised, and the ‘distance’ considered necessary between emergent groups and established response agencies. The discussion considers implications for inclusiveness, risk and responsibility if emergent volunteers are to be further integrated into disaster response.

Terry Binding WEMO Photograph 31

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office relaxing on couches in the foyer of the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Rebekah Rogers WEMO Photograph 088

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a volunteer from the Wellington Emergency Management Office standing with a minister from the International Disaster Relief Team.

Jim Baltaxe WEMO Photograph 042

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a volunteer from the Wellington Emergency Management Office standing next to a crack in a footpath caused by liquefaction.

Dan Neely WEMO Photograph 01

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a volunteer from Wellington Regional Emergency Management in a van. The van has a small kitchen in the back.

Natalie Kerschner WEMO Photograph 125

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a map of the Greendale fault line in Canterbury used by volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office.

Natalie Kerschner WEMO Photograph 126

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a map of the Greendale fault line in Canterbury used by volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office.

Rebekah Rogers WEMO Photograph 089

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a minister from the International Disaster Relief Team giving a volunteer from the Wellington Emergency Management Office a massage.

Rebekah Rogers WEMO Photograph 090

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a minister from the International Disaster Relief Team giving a volunteer from the Wellington Emergency Management Office a massage.

Rebekah Rogers WEMO Photograph 091

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a minister from the International Disaster Relief Team giving a volunteer from the Wellington Emergency Management Office a massage.

WEMO ERT Set 3 - February 2011 - Photograph 007

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office preparing for their journey to Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.

Rebekah Rogers WEMO Photograph 092

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a minister from the International Disaster Relief Team giving a volunteer from the Wellington Emergency Management Office a massage.

WEMO ERT Set 3 - February 2011 - Photograph 008

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office boarding a WRFF Helitack Rappel Crew emergency response vehicle in Wellington.

Jim Baltaxe WEMO Photograph 019

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a volunteer from the Wellington Emergency Management Office sitting on a bed in a campervan. The campervan served as temporary accommodation for emergency management personnel who travelled to Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.

Rebekah Rogers WEMO Photograph 007

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office eating pizza on the side of Park Terrace near the intersection with Salisbury Street.

WEMO ERT Set 2 - February 2011 - Photograph 02

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office preparing for their journey to Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. In the background is the Wellington Emergency Management Office building.

WEMO ERT Set 2 - February 2011 - Photograph 01

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office preparing for their journey to Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. In the background is the Wellington Emergency Management Office building.

WEMO ERT Set 3 - February 2011 - Photograph 004

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office preparing for their journey to Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. In the background is the Wellington Emergency Management Office building.

Nic Johns and Mark Osborne WEMO Photograph 110

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a volunteer from the Wellington Emergency Management Office standing in a crack in a field near the Greendale fault line.

Nic Johns and Mark Osborne WEMO Photograph 111

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a volunteer from the Wellington Emergency Management Office standing in a crack in a field near the Greendale fault line.

Terry Binding WEMO Photograph 10

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a volunteer from the Wellington Emergency Management Office filling out paperwork in an office at the Mainland Foundation Ball Park in Christchurch.

Nic Johns and Mark Osborne WEMO Photograph 124

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office sitting on a fence around a group of earthquake-damaged shops on Manchester Street.

Nic Johns and Mark Osborne WEMO Photograph 123

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office sitting on a fence around a group of earthquake-damaged shops on Manchester Street.

Nic Johns and Mark Osborne WEMO Photograph 122

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office standing on a pile of bricks from an earthquake-damaged building in the Christchurch central city.

Nic Johns and Mark Osborne WEMO Photograph 121

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office standing on a pile of bricks from an earthquake-damaged building in the Christchurch central city.

Photograph number UC 11-0372-06

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Gold Award, presented to Anthony Rohan, from Invercargill, Student Volunteer Army financial management. With Prime Minister John Key.

Photograph number UC 11-0372-05

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Gold Award, presented to Anthony Rohan, from Invercargill, Student Volunteer Army financial management. With Prime Minister John Key.

Dan Neely WEMO Photograph 02

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a volunteer from Wellington Regional Emergency Management placing items in the back of a van. The van has a small kitchen in the back.

Terry Binding WEMO Photograph 13

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office walking down a street in Christchurch. A portaloo has been placed on the side of the road.

Ray Whelan WEMO Photograph 32

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of volunteers from the Wellington Emergency Management Office working at the reception in Cowles Stadium on Pages Road. The stadium was set up by Civil Defence as temporary accommodation for citizens displaced by the 4 September 2010 earthquake. One of the volunteers is holding a cat in a carrier.