On 14 November 2016, a magnitude (Mw) 7.8 earthquake struck the small coastal settlement of Kaikōura, Aotearoa-New Zealand. With an economy based on tourism, agriculture, and fishing, Kaikōura was immediately faced with significant logistical, economic, and social challenges caused by damage to critical infrastructure and lifelines, essential to its main industries. Massive landslips cut offroad and rail access, stranding hundreds of tourists, and halting the collection, processing and distribution of agricultural products. At the coast, the seabed rose two metres, limiting harbour-access to high tide, with implications for whale watching tours and commercial fisheries. Throughout the region there was significant damage to homes, businesses, and farmland, leaving owners and residents facing an uncertain future. This paper uses qualitative case study analysis to explore post-quake transformations in a rural context. The aim is to gain insight into the distinctive dynamics of disaster response mechanisms, focusing on two initiatives that have emerged in direct response to the disaster. The first examines the ways in which agriculture, food harvesting, production and distribution are being reimagined with the potential to enhance regional food security. The second examines the rescaling of power in decision-making processes following the disaster, specifically examining the ways in which rural actors are leveraging networks to meet their needs and the consequences of that repositioning on rural (and national) governance arrangements. In these and other ways, the local economy is being revitalised, and regional resilience enhanced through diversification, capitalising not on the disaster but the region's natural, social, and cultural capital. Drawing on insights and experience of local stakeholders, policy- and decision-makers, and community representatives we highlight the diverse ways in which these endeavours are an attempt to create something new, revealing also the barriers which needed to be overcome to reshape local livelihoods. Results reveal that the process of transformation as part of rural recovery must be grounded in the lived reality of local residents and their understanding of place, incorporating and building on regional social, environmental, and economic characteristics. In this, the need to respond rapidly to realise opportunities must be balanced with the community-centric approach, with greater recognition given to the contested nature of the decisions to be made. Insights from the case examples can inform preparedness and recovery planning elsewhere, and provide a rich, real-time example of the ways in which disasters can create opportunities for reimagining resilient futures.
A blog post from US Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, David Huebner, titled, "Embassy Science Fellowship Program Focuses on Earthquake Research".
A blog post from US Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, David Huebner, titled, "Ceres Environment Ready to Chip in for Christchurch".
A photograph of a member of the New Zealand Defence Force at the entrance to the emergency management headquarters in Latimer Square.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Bank of New Zealand building in Kaiapoi on the corner of Williams Street and Charles Street".
A photograph of emergency management vehicles, including two New Zealand Fire Service trucks and a police patrol wagon, parked on Worcester Street.
On a walk around the neighbourhood, December 3, 2013, Christchurch New Zealand. www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/avenues/featu...
A member of the Royal New Zealand Navy and civilian walking down Colombo Street during the aftermath of the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A press release from the United States of America Embassy New Zealand, about their response to the 22 February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch.
A photograph of members of the New Zealand Police and Army guarding a cordon on the corner of Gloucester Street and Park Terrace.
This study explores the role and value of urban community gardens following a major crisis: the 2010/11 earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand.
An image from a Navy Today April 2011 article titled, "Cordon Patrols in Lyttelton". The image is of Captain Dean McDougall briefing AVM Pete Stockwell, the then commander of the New Zealand Joint Forces. To the left stands LTCDR Simon Rooke.
An image from a Navy Today April 2011 article titled, "Earthquake!". The image is of sailors off loading food from the HMNZS Canterbury for the Lyttelton Community.
An image from a Army News March 2011 article titled, "Transport". The image shows South Island Operations Manager, Jeoff Barr, loading chemical toilets into a Unimog in Christchurch. The chemical toilets were delivered to residents in Christchurch who had been without water for ten days.
An image from a Army News March 2011 article titled, "Territorial Force". The image shows members of the Central and Lower North Island Territorial Units clearing silt from a resident's garden in east Christchurch. On the left is Private Quentin Chat of Taranaki, and Corporal Samuel Hatcher of Wellington is on the right.
An image from an Air Force News April 2011 article titled, "Helping Hand for Lyttelton Museum". The image depicts the damaged Lyttelton Museum with a broken top wall and wire fencing around the building.
An image from an Air Force News April 2011 article titled, "Helping Hand for Lyttelton Museum". In the image, four men from the Air Force Museum are carrying a model ship out of the museum.
An image from a Navy Today April 2011 article titled, "Earthquake Hits Close to Home". The image depicts two Pukaki Offices, SLT Blair Sneddon and LT Dave Luhrs. Both offices had families in Christchurch during the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
An image from a Navy Today April 2011 article titled, "Feeding the Multitudes". The image is of CPOCH Perrin Newland head chief of the HMNZS Canterbury which moored in Lyttelton after the 22 February 2011 earthquake, supplying meals to the Lyttelton community.
An image from a Navy Today April 2011 article titled, "Earthquake!". The image is of the damaged Christchurch Cathedral seen from a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion the afternoon of the earthquake.
An image from a Navy Today April 2011 article titled, "Earthquake!". The image is of the Time Ball Station in Lyttelton, photographed from the HMNZS Canterbury in the Lyttelton Harbour.
An image from a Army News March 2011 article titled, "Territorial Force". The image shows Stanley Tung from the Auckland Territorial Unit directing traffic in east Christchurch.
An image from a Army News March 2011 article titled, "Territorial Force". The image shows a member of the Territorial Force clearing silt from a resident's garden in east Christchurch.
A video about HMNZS Canterbury providing meals to Lyttelton residents after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. About 700 meals were prepared on the ship for residents who were displaced after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
An image from a Army News March 2011 photo compilation titled, "All in a Days Work". The image is captioned, "A container of equipment is off-loaded from a C-130 Hercules". This equipment is a generator sent down from Auckland to support Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
An image from a Army News March 2011 photo compilation titled, "All in a Days Work". The image is captioned, "Defence Force personnel help with the aero-medical evacuation of elderly and vulnerable patients".
An image from an Army News March 2011 article titled, "A Helping Hand in a Disaster Zone". The image is of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on Barbadoes Street, severely damaged after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The domes on either side of the Cathedral have collapsed and are lying in the area in front.
An image from a Army News March 2011 article titled, "Defence Medical Personnel Use Their Expertise". In the image, New Zealand Navy, Air Force, and Army personnel are checking on a rest home resident who was being evacuated from Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
An image from a Army News March 2011 article titled, "An Army Being Led to Win". The image shows Defence Force personnel during an operational tour of Lyttelton taken by Commander Joint Forces, Air Marshal Peter Stockwell and Chief of Army Tim Keating to view the aftermath of the Christchurch Earthquake.
An image from a Army News March 2011 article titled, "Defence Medical Personnel Use Their Expertise". In the image, members of the New Zealand Air Force are checking on a rest home resident on a Boeing 757. The resident was evacuated from Christchurch after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.