A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Iconic bar on the corner of Manchester and Gloucester Streets. Large sections of the outer walls have collapsed, the bricks and masonry spilling onto the footpath below, crushing several cars. USAR codes have been spray-painted near the door and a red sticker has been taped above. The red sticker indicates that the building is unsafe to enter.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to Munn's the Man store on Armagh Street. The outer wall of the top storey has collapsed, the bricks and other rubble spilling onto the car park below. Wire fences placed around the building have toppled over. Steel bracing has been set up inside the building to hold the roof up.
A photograph of a Christchurch City Council red sticker. The sticker was used by the Civil Defence after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes to indicate that a building had been inspected and that serious structural damage had been found. The sticker states that there should be no entry to the building. It also states that 'entry may result in death or injury'.
A photograph of a sign taped to a window. The sign includes a bullet pointed list of humorous observations about Christchurch following the February 2011 earthquake. The sign reads, "You know you're from Christchurch when: you use the term 'liquefaction' and 'seismic design' in casual conversation; digging a hole and shitting in your garden is no longer weird; your mayor describes the city as munted. If he means FUBARed, you agree; weaving through car size potholes on the street is no longer weird; a shower is heaven; you have a preference of which kind of silt you'd rather shovel, dry or wet; you see tanks...driving around town; you are always noting what you are under; due to frequent aftershocks during the night, you sleep like a baby - every 10 minutes you wake up and shit yourself".
A photograph of the back page of a Christchurch City Council form. The form allowed contractors to apply for the authorisation to enter the Christchurch Red Zone after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Information on the back reads, "What does this authorisation mean for me? I am wearing appropriate personal protection clothing and equipment. At all times DO NOT enter any red placarded building. You may enter a yellow placarded building for a period of time (no longer than 30 minutes) and follow the instruction of the escorts. A green placarded building may be accessed for longer periods. Please note: do not enter any buildings which are not for the purpose of your authorisation".
A video of the keynote presentation by Sir John Holmes, during the first plenary of the 2016 People in Disasters Conference. Holmes is the former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, the current Director of Ditchley Foundation, and the chair of the Board of the International Rescue Committee in the UK. The presentation is titled, "The Politics of Humanity: Reflections on international aid in disasters".The abstract for this presentation reads as follows: As United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinate from 2007-2010, Sir John Holmes was heavily involved in the coordination of air provision to countries struck by natural and man-made disasters, raising the necessary funds, and the elaboration of humanitarian policy. The international humanitarian system is fragmented and struggling to cope with rising demands from both conflicts such as that in Syria, and the growing effects of climate change. Sir John will talk about what humanitarian aid can and cannot achieve, the frustrations of getting aid through when access may be difficult or denied, and the need to ensure that assistance encompasses protection of civilians and efforts to get them back on their feet, as well as the delivery of essential short term items such as food, water, medical care and shelter. He will discuss the challenges involved in trying to make the different agencies - UN United Nations, non-government organisations and the International Red Cross/Crescent movement - work together effectively. He will reveal some of the problems in dealing with donor and recipient governments who often have their own political and security agendas, and may be little interested in the necessary neutrality and independence of humanitarian aid. He will illustrate these points by practical examples of political and other dilemmas from aid provision in natural disasters such as Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar in 2009, and the Haiti earthquake of 2010, and in conflict situations such as Darfur, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in the past, and Syria today. He will also draw conclusions and make recommendations about how humanitarian aid might work better, and why politicians and others need to understand more clearly the impartial space required by humanitarian agencies to operate properly.
A video of the keynote presentation by Alexander C. McFarlane during the third plenary of the 2016 People in Disasters Conference. McFarlane is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Adelaide and the Heady of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies. The presentation is titled, "Holding onto the Lessons Disasters Teach".The abstract for this presentation reads as follows: Disasters are sentinel points in the life of the communities affected. They bring an unusual focus to community mental health. In so doing, they provide unique opportunities for better understanding and caring for communities. However, one of the difficulties in the disaster field is that many of the lessons from previous disasters are frequently lost. If anything, Norris (in 2006) identified that the quality of disaster research had declined over the previous 25 years. What is critical is that a longitudinal perspective is taken of representative cohorts. Equally, the impact of a disaster should always be judged against the background mental health of the communities affected, including emergency service personnel. Understandably, many of those who are particularly distressed in the aftermath of a disaster are people who have previously experienced a psychiatric disorder. It is important that disaster services are framed against knowledge of this background morbidity and have a broad range of expertise to deal with the emerging symptoms. Equally, it is critical that a long-term perspective is considered rather than short-term support that attempts to ameliorate distress. Future improvement of disaster management depends upon sustaining a body of expertise dealing with the consequences of other forms of traumatic stress such as accidents. This expertise can be redirected to co-ordinate and manage the impact of larger scale events when disasters strike communities. This presentation will highlight the relevance of these issues to the disaster planning in a country such as New Zealand that is prone to earthquakes.
A tribute taped to a window of a house on Tasman Place. The tribute reads, "Our red zoned house. When we bought you years ago, you looked a bit tired and sad, but overall you weren't too bad. We spruced you up with paint and love and asked for a blessing from above. The years went by, family and friends celebrations under your roof, your 'veggie' garden gave us kai. We felt safe within your wall, then one dreadful September night, the shaking earth made you fall. You tried with all your groaning might to keep us from harm. Because you were strongly built we held onto the door, while a wave of terror buckled the floor and outside the garden flooded with silt. Now you are near the end, sunken walls and windows bend. We say goodbye today and let you go, Our spirit and heart feels low. You are more than just mortar and brick. For us you were a gift, a safe haven where we once lived".
A photograph of the entrance to Cowles Stadium on Pages Road. The stadium was set up by Civil Defence to serve as temporary accommodation for people displaced by the 4 September 2010 earthquake. Signs on the door read, "Civil Defence", "If you are unwwell with flu or cold, please go to the doctor and not enter" and "Welcome to Cowles Stadium. Earthquake affected people only - you must register with Red Cross to receive help. Other help go to Winz office, 154 Aldwins Road, Linwood. Please, no alcohol, no drugs on site. Food and drinks only in designated areas".
A video of a presentation by David Meates, Chief Executive of the Christchurch District Health Board and the West Coast District Health Board, during the first plenary of the 2016 People in Disasters Conference. The presentation is titled, "Local System Perspective".The abstract for this presentation reads as follows: The devastating Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 have resulted in challenges for the people of Canterbury and have altered the population's health needs. In the wake of New Zealand's largest natural disaster, the health system needed to respond rapidly to changing needs and damaged infrastructure in the short-term in the context of developing sustainable long-term solutions. Canterbury was undergoing system transformation prior to the quakes, however the horizon of transformation was brought forward post-quake: 'Vision 2020' became the vision for now. Innovation was enabled as people working across the system addressed new constraints such as the loss of 106 acute hospital beds, 635 aged residential care beds, the loss of general practices and pharmacies as well as damaged non-government organisation sector. A number of new integration initiatives (e.g. a shared electronic health record system, community rehabilitation for older people, community falls prevention) and expansion of existing programs (e.g. acute demand management) were focused on supporting people to stay well in their homes and communities. The system working together in an integrated way has resulted in significant reductions in acute health service utilisation in Canterbury. Acute admission rates have not increased and remain significantly below national rates and the number of acute and rehabilitation bed days have fallen since the quakes, with these trends most evident among older people. However, health needs frequently reported in post-disaster literature have created greater pressures on the system. In particular, an escalating number of people facing mental health problems and coping with acute needs of the migrant rebuild population provide new challenges for a workforce also affected by the quakes. The recovery journey for Canterbury is not over.
A video of the keynote-presentation by Dr Jeanne LeBlanc, Registered Psychologist, during the second plenary of the 2016 People in Disasters Conference. LeBlanc is a Registered Psychologist, specialising in Clinical Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation. She is the British Columbia Psychological Association (BCPA) Representative for the American Psychological Associate State, Territorial and Provincial Disaster Response Network, and has also been appointed as the Behavioural Health Liaison to the American Board of Disaster Medicine. The presentation is titled, "Machetes and Breadfruit: Medical disaster response challenges in unstable settings".The abstract for this presentation reads as follows: The January 2010 earthquake in Haiti resulted in a massive response to a setting which was already fraught with danger, causing a number of personal, logistical, and safety challenges to responding medical teams. This presentation will provide a first-person account of this experience from the perspective of a behavioural health professional, whose responsibility was both the overall emotional wellbeing of the medical responders, as well as those impacted by the quake. Unique 'lessons learned' by these response teams will be highlighted, and recommendations will be provided for responders considering deploying to future events in highly unstable areas.
A photograph of a warning sign placed next to a river in Christchurch. The sign reads, "Warning contaminated water. Due to sewage overflows this water is unsafe to human contact and activity and a public health risk. Please keep all people and pets out of contact with the water and do not consume any seafood or shellfish collected from this area".
A photograph of Mike Hewson's installation, 'Government Life Suspension', on the wall of the Chancery Arcade building. The artwork depicts a reflection of the Government Life building which is visible behind the Chancery Arcade. The installation is part of a series titled 'Homage to the Lost Spaces'. The Government Life and Chancery Arcade buildings were demolished in 2014.
A poster created by Empowered Christchurch to advertise their submission to the CERA Draft Transition Recovery Plan on social media.The poster reads, "Submission. CERA Draft Transition Recovery Plan. After nearly five years of 'Emergency Response' where sustainability has been sacrificed in the interests of speed, we can assume that this phase is now behind us. We see no reason why this period should be extended until April 2016. Lessons must be learned from the past. It is time to move into the 'Restoration Phase'. Once seismic and building standards are corrected, and risks are notified, mapped and accepted, sustainability will be ensures. We need a city that is driven by the people that live in it, and enabled by a bureaucracy that accepts and mitigates risks, rather than transferring them to the most vulnerable residents. We support option 3+."
A photograph looking down south down Poplar Lane from the intersection of Lichfield Street. The lane is littered with bricks from the earthquake-damaged buildings above. A car parked on the right side of the lane has also been crushed by the falling bricks. Behind the car a message reading, 'Open your eyes. Life is beautiful', has been chalked on a brick wall.
A copy of a document from Empowered Christchurch which was sent to Queen Elizabeth. The document consists of a letter from Empowered Christchurch to Douglas Martin, Crown Manager from the Christchurch City Council, and Official Information Act requests sent to Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson and Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee. It also includes an appeal to the Queen on behalf of Christchurch residents with badly-damaged houses. Please note that a letter from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, which was originally included in the document, has been removed due to copyright issues.
A photograph of Mike Hewson's installation, 'Government Life Suspension', on the wall of the Chancery Arcade building. The artwork depicts a reflection of the Government Life building which is visible behind the Chancery Arcade. The installation is part of a series titled 'Homage to the Lost Spaces'. The Government Life and Chancery Arcade buildings were demolished in 2014.
A photograph of emergency management personnel examining a block of earthquake-damaged rooms at Stonehurst Accommodation on Gloucester Street. The bottom storey of the block has collapsed and the remaining rooms are now resting on an incline. The front walls of these rooms have also collapsed and the rubble has spilled in to the courtyard in front. Cordon tape has been draped across the courtyard in front of the rubble. In the foreground there is liquefaction on the ground from a liquefaction volcano.
A photograph of artworks on the wall of a building between New Brighton Mall and Beresford Street. The artwork in the middle depicts a range of native birds. To the left, a section of another artwork shows a hei matau and a jester holding a sign that reads, "Nothing about us without us!". To the right there is a landscape with a message written over it.
A photograph of several earthquake-damaged buildings on Lichfield Street. A section of the top storey of the building in the middle has collapsed. USAR codes have been spray-painted on the front door, columns, and windows of all of the buildings. A red sticker has also been stuck to the door of the closest building, indicating that it is unsafe to enter.
An aerial photograph of the Christchurch CBD. The photograph has been captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "This photograph shows the many tall CBD buildings, with the Hotel Grand Chancellor under demolition in the centre of the photograph. The street in the foreground running up the photograph from left to right is Lichfield Street with the old Bus Exchange clearly visible".
A photograph of members of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team examining an earthquake-damaged building on Acton Street. The closest section of the outer wall has collapsed, and the bricks and other rubble have fallen onto the pavement in front. A boat which was being stored inside has toppled over and is now sticking out of the building. Several cars, also stored inside the building, are visible.
A photograph of a map used by the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team. The block of buildings between Montreal, Acton, St Asaph, and Antigua Streets has been outlined in red. Halkett Street has also been coloured in red. Various buildings around these areas have been highlighted in orange and blue.
A photograph of mannequins lying on the footpath outside the R.N.A clothing store on Colombo Street. The mannequins are dressed in adventure gear. USAR codes have been spray-painted on the glass door and window of the store. A yellow sticker has also been stuck to the door, indicating that access to the building is restricted.
Damage to River Road in Richmond. The road surface is badly cracked and slumped, and liquefaction silt covers part of the road. Two people in gumboots walk towards a barrier erected across the road using road cones and warning tape, and in the background the badly twisted Medway Street bridge can be seen. The photographer comments, "Longitudinal cracks indicate lateral movement as the land sagged towards the river. Near 373 River Rd, looking south-east towards Medway St. The Medway St bridge is visible in the background".
A photograph of women sewing felt badges outside the Christchurch City Library in Lyttelton. The felt hearts were a healing outlet during the Canterbury earthquakes. The goal was to create beauty in the midst of chaos, to keep people's hands busy and their minds off the terrifying reality of the earthquakes, as well as to give a gift of love to workers and businesses who helped improve life in Lyttelton.
A photograph of signs on the windows of the Christchurch Art Gallery. The art gallery was used as the temporary Civil Defence headquarters after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The signs read, "Today is Thursday 3 March 2011" and "Wash your hands!". In the background, emergency management personnel and a New Zealand Fire Service truck can be seen.
A photograph of paper hearts pegged on the cordon fence around the Chinese Methodist Church on Papanui Road. Quotes on the hearts read, "'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me.' Psalm 23", "'We can do no great things; only small things with great love.' Mother Teresa, and, "'Peace begins with a smile,' Mother Teresa". In the background, the earthquake damage to the Christchurch Chinese Methodist Church can be seen. The wall of the gable has crumbled, the bricks spilling onto the grass below.
A photograph of a member of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team climbing a ladder up the back of a house on Gloucester Street. The ladder has been placed against the house so that the ERT members can enter the building through the open window. To the right a section of the house next door has collapsed and the bricks have spilled onto the shed below.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to the Edward Gibbon building on Madras Street. Sections of the top storey have collapsed and the bricks have spilled onto the road in front, damaging the awning and smashing several cars. In the foreground members of the Wellington Emergency Management Office Emergency Response Team are standing on the road.