An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 6 April 2011 entitled, "Day 44 - Freedom is in sight!".
The world experiences a number of disasters each year. Following a disaster, the affected area moves to a phase of recovery which involves multiple stakeholders. An important element of recovery is planning the rebuild of the affected environment guided by the legislative framework to which planning is bound to (March & Kornakova, 2017). Yet, there appears to be little research that has investigated the role of planners in a recovery setting and the implications of recovery legislative planning frameworks. This study was conducted to explore the role of the planner in the Canterbury earthquake recovery process in New Zealand and the impact of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011 (CER Act) on planners’ roles and how they operated. The methodology comprised a combination of document analysis of legislation and related recovery material and 21 semi-structured interviews with key planners, politicians and professionals involved in the recovery. The results suggest that the majority of planners interviewed were affected by the CER Act in their role and how they operated, although institutional context, especially political constraints, was a key factor in determining the degree of impact. It is argued that planners played a key role in recovery and were generally equipped in terms of skills needed in a recovery setting. In order to better utilise planners in post-disaster recovery or disaster risk management, two suggestions are proposed. Firstly, better promote planners and their capabilities to improve awareness of what planners can do. Secondly, educate and build an understanding between central government politicians and planners over each others role to produce better planning outcomes.
The "Lyttelton Review" newsletter for 24 October 2011, produced by the Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre.
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 13 March 2013 entitled, "Time for Tourists".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 7 November 2011 entitled, "Retail Re-start".
The "Lyttelton Review" newsletter for 23 January 2012, produced by the Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre.
The "Lyttelton Harbour Review" newsletter for 22 July 2013, produced by the Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre.
The "Lyttelton Review" newsletter for 8 October 2012, produced by the Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre.
The "Lyttelton Review" newsletter for 19 November 2012, produced by the Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre.
In this dissertation it is argued that the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011 and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority were both necessary and inevitable given the trends and traditions of civil defence emergency management (CDEM) in New Zealand. The trends and traditions of civil defence are such that principles come before practice, form before function, and change is primarily brought about through crisis and criticism. The guiding question of the research was why were a new governance system and law made after the Canterbury earthquakes in 2010 and 2011? Why did this outcome occur despite the establishment of a modern emergency management system in 2002 which included a recovery framework that had been praised by international scholars as leading edge and a model for other countries? The official reason was the unprecedented scale and demands of the recovery – but a disaster of such scale is the principle reason for having a national emergency management system. Another explanation is the lack of cooperation among local authorities – but that raises the question of whether the CDEM recovery framework would have been successful in another locality. Consequentially, the focus of this dissertation is on the CDEM recovery framework and how New Zealand came to find itself making disaster law during a disaster. Recommendations include a review of emergency powers for recovery, a review of the capabilities needed to fulfil the mandate of Recovery Managers, and the establishment of a National Recovery Office with a cadre of Recovery Managers that attend every recovery to observe, advise, or assume control as needed. CDEM Group Recovery Managers would be seconded to the National Recovery Office which would allow for experience in recovery management to be developed and institutionalised through regular practice.
Earthquakes and other major disasters present communities and their authorities with an extraordinary challenge. While a lot can be done to prepare a city’s response in the event of a disaster, few cities are truly prepared for the initial impact, devastation, grief, and the seemingly formidable challenge of recovery. Many people find themselves overwhelmed with facing critical problems; ones which they have often never had experience with before. While the simple part is agreeing on a desired outcome for recovery, it appears the argument that exists between stakeholders is the conflicting ideas of How To effectively achieve the main objective. What I have identified as an important step toward collaborating on the How To of recovery is to identify the ways in which each discipline can most effectively contribute to the recovery. Landscape architecture is just one of the many disciplines (that should be) invovled in the How To of earthquake recovery. Canterbury has an incredible opportunity to set the benchmark for good practice in earthquake recovery. To make the most of this opportuntiy, it is critical that landscape architects are more effectively engaged in roles of recovery across a much broader spectrum of recovery activities. The overarching purpose of this research is to explore and provide insight to the current and potential of landscape architects in the earthquake recovery period in Canterbury, using international good practice as a benchmark. The research is aimed at stimulating and guiding landscape architects dealing with the earthquake recovery in Canterbury, while informing stakeholders: emergency managers, authorities, other disciplines and the wider community of themost effective role(s) for landscape architects in the recovery period.
News that a former military man, Major General Martyn Dunne, is expected to head the first stage of earthquake recovery in Christchurch has reignited debate about how that recovery should be managed.
The "Lyttelton Review" newsletter for 16 July 2012, produced by the Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre.
The "Lyttelton Review" newsletter for 20 August 2012, produced by the Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre.
The "Lyttelton Harbour Review" newsletter for 4 February 2013, produced by the Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre.
Website of the EQR (Earthquake Recovery) Project Management Office, established by the EQC and managed by Fletcher Construction, that responds to claims for the repair and rebuilding of houses damaged in the Feb. 2011 Canterbury earthquake.
A video of the first part of an address by Roger Sutton, Chief Executive of Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, at the 2012 Seismics and the City forum. The talk focuses on Sutton's roles as the CEO of Orion during the September and February earthquakes, and the co-ordinator of the recovery and rebuild of Christchurch.
A video of the second part of an address by Roger Sutton, Chief Executive of Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, at the 2012 Seismics and the City forum. The talk focuses on Sutton's roles as the CEO of Orion during the September and February earthquakes, and the co-ordinator of the recovery and rebuild of Christchurch.
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 24 July 2013 entitled, "Forming the Frame".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 26 July 2013 entitled, "Royal Restoration".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's Blog for 06 February 2014 entitled, "Losing Luneys".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 5 January 2012 entitled, "Sunny Seaside".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 13 May 2013 entitled, "Restored Roadsigns".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 19 April 2013 entitled, "Reading Room".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 10 March 2013 entitled, "Flattened Flats".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 12 April 2011 entitled, "Day 50 - Free at last!".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 25 May 2011 entitled, "Airport Alterations".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 12 April 2011 entitled, "Day 50 - Scarcity of Sleep".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 28 November 2011 entitled, "Shunned streets".
An entry from Ruth Gardner's blog for 11 June 2011 entitled, "Strolling on Saturday".