How Communities in Christchurch Have Been Coping with Their Earthquake

Libby Gawith, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology

This paper focuses on what Christchurch people coped on Tuesday February 22, 2011, immediately afterwards, and how they are coping at the end of 2011. It offers some constructive suggestions for recovery from future disasters. This is not the work of an expert on earthquakes or on how people cope with them. It is not an exhaustive profile or an accurate representation of how all people in Christchurch, New Zealand are coping. It is a compilation of newspaper stories, experiences, conversations, and information people have shared with the author.

The major earthquake activity in they were all asleep. February 22, February 22, 2011 was a day for Canterbury has included: 2011 was lunchtime, an active time of the people of Christchurch to the day, and therefore, there are over remember and to forget in equal ● 7.1 measured earthquake on 440,000 individual stories of the measure; “a lot of people, even people Saturday morning, 4:34am, experience of this earthquake in the army, won’t see what we saw September 4, 2010, now known aftershock and how people are coping that day, in their lifetimes...people just as the Greendale Fault or the now. going to lunch or back to work, just Canterbury earthquake, which completely undeserving people” was centred at Darfield (near Mt February 22, 2011 (McGregor, as cited in Eleven, 2011, Hutt) with no loss of life C7). People, on that day, saw and The February 22, 2011 activity heard of the collapsed buildings and ● 6.3 measured aftershock on was particularly damaging as “the crushed buses and cars; the deceased Tuesday lunchtime, 12:51pm, rupture was less than five kilometres people trapped under buildings (in February 22, 2011, now known as from Christchurch’s central business particular the PGC and CTV the Port Hills Fault, which was district …..with unusually violent buildings) and in vehicles. The CBD / centred under the Port Hills ground movements. The earthquake central city was cordoned off within 2 between Christchurch and brought down buildings, caused hours and a state of emergency Lyttlelton, resulting in death for liquefaction in large areas of declared. 181 people Christchurch and triggered numerous rockfalls on the Port Hills” (Natural ● 6.3 measured aftershock on Hazards Research Platform, 2011, Figure 1: City of Christchurch, Monday afternoon, 2:20pm, June paras. 7-8). The moment the 12:51am, Feb 22, 2011 (photo taken 13, 2011 which was centred near aftershock hit the Christchurch central from the Port Hills) Clifton Hill (Sumner area), one business district is shown in Figure 1

subsequent death below. ● 33 shocks over magnitude 5.0, 2889 over 3.0 from Sep 2010 to Dec 2011 (GeoNet, Dec 16, 2011). Most people in New Zealand know generally about the major Canterbury earthquake and the subsequent aftershocks. People in Christchurch know exactly where they were, what they were doing, eating, wearing, discussing at the time of these major seismic events. Most people in Christchurch have the same story for the first earthquake on September 4, 2010;

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Figure 2: Colombo St, Feb 22, 2011

Figure 3: Colombo St

The roads were buckled and choked with people trying to get home to their families and loved ones. Homes were destroyed or severely damaged, and liquefaction deposits of mud and silt was coming up in driveways and streets, particularly in the eastern and southern parts of Christchurch. In addition, emergency services were stretched as 6000 people were injured and needing services, which included amputations and 82 orthopaedic operations (Glass, 2011, p. A10).

Figure 4: Anglican Cathedral, The Square Damage was extensive in the CBD and the Anglican and Catholic cathedrals (Figures 4 and 5). The Hotel Grand Chancellor, now nicknamed the Hotel Ground Chancellor (Figure 6), suffered much damage from the intense shaking: the building’s “seismic resisting structure was pushed to its yield point and beyond its elastic limit … and failed in a brittle and abrupt manner” (Dunning & Thornton Consultants Ltd, 2011, p.22).

Figure 5: Catholic Cathedral, Barbados St

Figure 6: Hotel Grand Chancellor

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Liquefaction was visible and its effects in Christchurch were extensive and resulted in significant damage to property, buildings and infrastructure, not to mention creating a widespread mess. Silt, sand and water came up in people’s backyards, in streets and parks and even through the concrete floors of buildings.

Figures 7: Engineering checks at the Palms Shopping Mall Liquefaction is the process that “leads to a soil suddenly losing strength, most commonly as a result of ground shaking during a large earthquake …. and then behaves like a fluid” (Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand [IPENZ], It was obvious that day that the publications, tax records, sports gear, 2011, paras. 2-3) and when this house would be red stickered (deemed paints and handyman tools, was happens in a shopping mall, the unsafe and uninhabitable), as was later completely destroyed. impact is immense, as shown in confirmed by the Earthquake Figures 7 and 8 Commission. Figure 9: Author’s car and home in Huntsbury, now known as Figures 8: Liquefaction silt at the The garage, which housed “Muntsbury” Palms Shopping Mall research reports, interview scripts,

When this author got home on February 22, 2011 after 2 and a half hours (usually a 15 minute drive) battling the traffic, getting children from school, checking elderly parents, it was to a destroyed / ‘munted’ house.

The side of the house had landed on the car (as in Figure 9), the ceilings had fallen in, outside bricks were in the living room and the dog was shedding hair and traumatised as he was in the house as it rattled and disintegrated.

Figure 10: Kitchen scrambled

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The Christchurch rest homes were para. 4) and is more helpful than The next greatest loss for many badly hit, with 600 elderly people contact with professionals in the early Cantabrians was income and financial having to be moved out of the city. stages. This neighbourly social security, as businesses were Management struggled to get staff to support was in abundance in most destroyed, or jobs made insecure or work and to sort out sanitation suburbs and surprisingly most lost. Another great loss was homes, difficulties. There is a story of one rest activated in the areas facing many irreparable, particularly in the home in Redcliffs, a badly hit and liquefaction, as many people from southern and eastern suburbs. The cliffside suburb, where residents and throughout Christchurch and northern and the western suburbs were staff were sleeping in one room, and Canterbury went to help out. It is less affected. An unexpected and the elderly residents were comforting surprising how long it takes to dig out massive loss was the loss of the city the distressed staff. one driveway full of liquefaction. In and a way of life, with 40,000 people addition the Māori wardens knocked who worked in the CBD now scattered School teachers were keeping on an average of 700 doors per day throughout Christchurch. The loss of children safe and calm and hoping that especially in the eastern suburbs the functioning of the CBD and the all the parents would arrive. At one (Dalziel, 2011, para. 3) and the Red number of buildings lost has hit many primary school, the teachers were Cross, in their bright red suits, made businesses and many more people. working in shifts so that others could many house visits. Streets and areas are still inaccessible go out and have a cry, as they all behind gates and guards. Throughout worried about their own families and Thank goodness for texting; as Christchurch, buildings are being lives. At another primary school, many texts came in from around the demolished at a rapid pace by 78 teachers stayed until after 7:30pm that country and the world with words of demolition crews. About 370 night waiting for parents to collect cheery support and warm interest in buildings have been demolished (in their children. the plight of the people of the CBD), but 530 wait to be either Christchurch. pulled down entirely, partly Feb 22 Immediately Afterwards – demolished or made safe (Law, 2011, Heroic and Honeymoon Phase People tried to make sense of the paras. 4-5). devastation and loss. There were In the days immediately after common survival stories, common For many people, there was a February 22, 2011 many suburbs had losses of people and property, major gap between what they had that no power, no water and no sanitation. common vulnerability and common morning and what they had in the For many it was fortuitous that there fears for the future. It was a very afternoon. was no power, as residents were not collective community-wide processing able to see a lot of the horrific of loss, adjustment and grief. It was a What are we Coping with at the earthquake images. quite extraordinary time seeing and End of 2011? - Disillusionment hearing how it affected so many Phase The earthquake was a huge social people in each neighbourhood and leveller as people were all working community. People, neighbours and Moore (2011) observes that together without water, power and gas communities offered each other “every facet of how and where we live and with or without portaloos, dealing psychological first aid, most has undergone a radical with aftershocks and liquefaction and generously. shift...psychological and physical cleaning up properties. The majority landmarks of daily life have been of people were now at home; people damaged” (p. 184) and that we “live Losses weren't at work, they weren't at study, daily with visible reminders of the they weren't at play. Life slowed down It is quite humbling to consider disaster” (p. 184). As Bennett (2011), incredibly, and people had time to the scale of losses on February 22, a local writer and social commentator check on the neighbours. The few 2011. This author considers that the puts it, we “live in a city of open supermarkets were busy and ran greatest loss was of loved ones, as 182 uncertainty and ... the task is so vast, low on alcohol, toilet paper and people died that day. People lost problems so various, that there is no canned food, but were definitely the members of their family as well as real sense of the way ahead” (p. 9). place to be with many stories and partners, friends, work colleagues. Gluckman (2011, p. 2) describes this latest news swapped and repeated. One man went to 12 funerals in the as the disillusionment phase (the third two weeks after February 22 as almost phase of recovery) as people realise Gluckman (2011, p. 2) argues a whole layer of an organisation was how long recovery will take and there are the heroic (when people see wiped out. A lot of people who died become angry and frustrated. help needed and don’t count the costs) were middle-aged working people, and the honeymoon (when people see from many walks of life, as well as The figures for the rebuild are help arriving and feel that the situation many international students. The death staggering. The bill for non-residential will improve) phases in a disaster notices in the local Press newspaper reconstruction including infrastructure recovery. Most effective social highlighted numerous people in their (roads and sewage) is estimated at support and help after a disaster comes 30s, 40s and 50s. $3billion (Cosgrove, 2011, para. 1). from neighbours and communities There have been about 387,000 claims (NZ Psychological Society, 2011, for damage made to the Earthquake

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Commission (Law, 2011, para. 9). insurance companies to process their (Bangma, as cited in Matthews, 2011, 100,000 homes were damaged and claims and start repair and rebuilding C4). require repair work (Law, 2011) while work. It is important to consider what 10,000 homes are being demolished homes and buildings represent to There are numerous school and rebuilt. people: it is their financial security, teachers being laid off this year due to their personal history and their place falling school rolls, with one estimate There are varying estimates of in the world; so for many more than of “167 full time teaching positions how many people have left 10,000 people, this has been taken being unfunded in 2012” (Matthews, Christchurch, with the figure of away. 2011, C4). Some schools were still 26,000 touted in September, 1000 site sharing with other schools at the people per week in a November Children and families disrupted. end of 2011, while Marian College in newspaper headline, and a Some families/whānau are still coping the eastern suburbs will not return to conservative estimate of one family a with sleeping problems. For both its site until 2016 and Avonside Girls day from the local schools. Some children (particularly younger College by the river in the same schools in the city's eastern suburbs children) and parents, so that there is a suburb, has been deemed unsafe. The have reported roll declines of about 20 lack of quality, recuperative sleep. University of Canterbury is 25% down per cent. Education Ministry figures Younger children can exhibit “fear of on its enrolments for 2012, show 4496 pupils have moved to new separation, strangers, withdrawal or particularly international students. schools (Law, 2011, paras. 11-13). So sleep disturbances” (Gluckman, 2011, there are gaps where people have p. 4). Teachers have observed some Elderly struggles. Quite a number gone. Some streets in the eastern and children getting anxious or having of elderly people who have been on southern suburbs are almost deserted, trouble letting their mothers go. their own have moved into a different and this makes life challenging for Bidwell (2011) argues that children arrangement as they just don’t want to those who remain living in these areas. and young people are particularly be alone. For some it has been a Many Māori have returned to their iwi vulnerable after disasters. A study of temporary move that has become and home areas away from the city. children after the Hurricane Katrina permanent. Six hundred rest home disaster found that the children were beds for the elderly were moved out of Toward the end of 2011, the nearly five times as likely as a cohort Christchurch to Timaru and Nelson people of Christchurch are coping (non disaster group) to suffer serious and other distant locations after with multiple issues and layers of emotional disturbance and some February 22. Some were separated difficulties. It has been a most children suffered long term stress from friends and relatives, and many memorable year with earthquakes, symptoms (Abramson, Park, Stehling- folk have died earlier than expected as after shocks, unexpected snowfalls Ariza, & Redlener, as cited in Bidwell, there has been so much change at such and the subsequent further days off 2011). a late stage in life. school and work, and rising rivers due to drainage difficulties after the There have also been a number of There has also been a rise in damage created by the earthquake. In disrupted routines. School friends elderly people having falls, increased addition, we had no Rugby World Cup have left and gone to live elsewhere. levels of dementia or disorientation as (RWC) games in Christchurch, this Children and adults are visiting friends well as an inability to recover from year. in munted houses, and some still have their financial losses. Moreover for the extra people living in their homes. elderly, the earthquake stressors may The load Christchurch people are There is a lot of anger, mood swings, have come on top of other life stress carrying includes housing damage, and many people in the family / and they may find them uninvited and interrupted family and school life and whānau who are tired much of the overwhelming. They may be having extra stress for the elderly, as well as time. Relationships can be under extra on-going changes to their general physical, financial, work related, stress. This is cumulatively very health and living arrangements, and relocation, social and emotional disruptive for children and for experiencing a lack of familiar places difficulties underpinned by concerns families/whānau. (e.g., shops and landmarks), changes about their future in the Garden City in their level of activity, and of Christchurch. For some it is School and teaching changes. interrupted access to community “chronic stress imposed by the on- Teachers have borne the brunt of a lot venues which have been damaged or going human, economic and social of kids’reactions and “day to day, disappeared. Even changes in bus costs” (Gluckman, 2011, p. 1). teachers end up dealing with the routes can be difficult for some elderly trauma associated with the people. Housing damaged / munted. The earthquakes and the uncertainty in housing problems are extensive. homes”(Wilkinson, as cited in Policing changes. Anecdotal People have been coping with Matthews, 2011, C5). One evidence suggests that there has been temporarily fixed up properties; some psychologist hypothesised that “up to a drop in crime in the north and in the eastern suburbs of Christchurch 50 per cent of children who might eastern/ central parts of Christchurch are still living without sewage and have gone on to suffer post-traumatic as their local population moves out; using chemical toilets. Some people stress disorder avoided it” because of and there is much less social activity are having to wait a long time for their the calming actions of their teachers within the CBD. The proactive

New Zealand Journal of Psychology Vol. 40, No. 4. 2011 • 125 • How Communities in Christchurch have been Coping with Their Earthquake monitoring and pastoral care of youth Workplaces relocated. It is “work bars on the greater outskirts of the at risk has been interrupted as many that seems the most different” (Van city, so the local suburban cafes and youngsters have been lost in the Beynen, 2011, C12) for the journalists bars have become much more popular. system, or have changed schools or of the Press who were relocated from Much of the central city is still behind left the area. Police, like schools, are the Square to near the airport, as for gates guarded by the military and in a state of uncertainty around future many others. Staff have been relocated inaccessible to the local residents. resourcing, as they wait to find out to offices all over the city, or are in how much of the population change cramped conditions with 6 people Emotional responses. Many and geographical shift is temporary or working in an office designed for two. people in Christchurch are exhausted permanent. Many lawyers in Christchurch are and tired. Bangma (as cited in struggling because they have lost Matthews, 2011, C4) says that “there Physical traffic difficulties. Parts offices and courtrooms and now need is an incredible amount of tiredness.” of the city still “remain off limits, and to commute out to Rangiora (out of Some meetings and some days it potholes still pock the roads” (Law, town) and to Pages Road, East seems like everyone in the room (male 2011, para. 2). There are now more Christchurch for the District Court, and female) has PMT or menopause, traffic jams and extra commuting to and to Timaru (2 hours away) to the because so many are fraught and short different work spaces as employees High Court for their work. tempered. are spread over the city and some major roads are still being repaired Working from home. People Uncertainty about the future. e.g., Fitzgerald and Deans Avenues. working from home have less social Many people are living with uncertain Huge containers lie at the foot of the contact, less motivation at times and futures, living and working in the Port Hills near Sumner to protect from fewer useful corridor information orange and white zones, where there further rock debris falling. The state of exchanges. Additionally, trying to are EQC decisions yet to be made the streets and the on-going damage to have work or staff meetings is about future viability and safety. The cars is another thing people are difficult, as it is hard to find places to lack of control is tiring and a lot of dealing with. meet. Venues have included the people in Christchurch are living in Netball Centre at Hagley Park, the limbo about their future. Many don’t Shops, businesses, sports hospital cafeteria and many local know what is happening with their grounds missing. Lyttelton’s harbour- cafes. The staff at the Christchurch homes or with their insurance side shops and businesses have mostly Museum only went back to work in companies. It can be most difficult to gone; Beckenham and Sydenham (in September 2011. establish long term goals for the the south) have lost a block of eight family, for holidays, routines, property shops and many shops respectively, as Different suburbs / different values and resale. No one seems to have other suburbs, while some struggles. There are differences know or be able to predict what is supermarkets have taken months to re- around the city in terms of on-going happening, or what is going to happen. establish and some banks have still not damage and difficulties. Eastern and re-opened. There are fewer sports southern Christchurch are the most Meaning and purpose. Facing grounds, no QE2 sports complex or affected areas. Some Brighton (in the disaster and surviving can change pool, missing swimming pools, and no east) streets have been left with the what people take for granted and alter AMI Stadium for major rugby housing designed half green (okay to perceptions of what is really matches. live here) and half red (unsafe and important, and it can also change what must leave) zoning and this may have people want from life. Traumatic Financial losses. People are an impact on the on-going value and events can have an impact on how losing jobs, particularly teachers in resale for this and other suburbs. One people see the world, life, goals and schools (Matthews, 2011, C4) and manager in the eastern suburbs takes relationships (Australian Centre for employees in small businesses and in staff and people who live in the Posttraumatic Mental Health, 2007, hospitality. Many schools and northern and western suburbs of para. 4). Some people question some organisations, dependent on Christchurch on empathy tours around of their long-held beliefs - about international students, have struggled these damaged areas to increase their safety, how much control they have as Christchurch is still considered an appreciation of how much hardship over their life and how predictable the unsafe place of study. People who people are living with. world really is (Australian Centre for own red stickered homes are facing Posttraumatic Mental Health, 2007, the end of their insurance payouts and Social – no CBD. There is no para. 2). possibly having to pay their mortgages CBD or central city, although the and top up their Work and Income NZ Ballantynes department store and The power of nature can also be (WINZ) temporary accommodation some adjacent shops opened at the end overwhelming. Being outside in an allowances to cover their rent. For of October 2011. It is difficult to live earthquake and seeing concrete and many who own red stickered rental without a central city CBD. The Court pavements move in a snakelike properties, there are additional Theatre is no longer in the Arts Centre manner, or being in a car and financial drains. in the CBD and has relocated to watching other cars bounce as if on a Addington. There are only a very few trampoline, or watching the whole central city theatres, restaurants or estuary get up and boogie, is

• 126 • New Zealand Journal of Psychology Vol. 40, No. 4. 2011 Gawith extraordinary. Afterwards, things exercising control over their lives is heads), as part of their earthquake don’t seem the same, and it can have a most prevalent in Christchurch. drills and this action is important for profound effect on people’s views and children to feel some control in the sense of order and predictability. New behaviours. Many people in face of disaster. Christchurch won't park underground Other – alopecia. 218 people in or on top of parking buildings as they Some school staff have had Canterbury have claimed grants for consider it will be too difficult to get sessions with Special Education wigs for temporary hair loss since out if there is an emergency. Some Services and other psychologists on Sept 4, 2010 (83 people nationwide people drive down the middle of the helping children cope with anxiety, usually apply for grant each year) and road (not near the edges) or won’t go trauma and low mood, stress and hair loss is usually related to stress into high rise buildings, lifts or anger, as well as typical symptoms for (McKenzie-McLean, 2011, p. 1) enclosed spaces. People have survival the parents and children, to help kits, sleeping bags, and water in understand what is earthquake related The long term measurement of backpacks ready to move quickly. behaviour and what is within the recovery in Christchurch will be how Many carry their cell phone normal range of psychological effects the people come out of it and how everywhere so that they can contact people can expect (Gluckman, 2011, lives are rebuilt, not just the quality of and be contacted at all times. p. 5). Staff at Relationship Services the buildings and the depth of the were valuable as they were available foundations. Preparedness and getting homes 24 hours, 7 days a week . checked. People are now living in How Are We Coping and What Is homes that are the most EQC and Regular events and routines. Life Helping? engineer assessed homes in New returning to normal or to pre-quake Zealand. When the 10,000 homes are activities has included sports, and after It is not possible to answer this rebuilt, they will be built to the latest school activities resuming, although question for 424,000 people, standard of the Building Code. Other not always at the regular venues. It has especially as at least 26,000 have left people in New Zealand would be wise been important to resume a normal the city; including possibly some of to have their own homes checked. The routine as quickly as possible, but the most traumatised. Some people are Turkish earthquake in August 1999 avoiding putting all the energy into very stoic, resilient and hardy, but not killed around 45,000 people. It was activities or work in an attempt to always and not every day. There are described as a manmade disaster, not a avoid the unpleasant feelings and individual variations from people with natural disaster, as these people died memories (Australian Centre for very orderly lives upset about the state in poorly designed, built and inspected posttraumatic Mental Health, 2007, of roads, the missing CBD and the buildings. Christchurch has now lost para. 4) is not a wise move. long delays, to those who have quite or will lose all their substandard and chaotic lives who consider the unsafe buildings. Workplace. Some useful practices earthquake interruptions as merely in different workplaces have included more stressors in their lives. Building strong neighbourhood Staff Well-being Committees, communities. Many people in workplace quake-leave for people to However we do know that Christchurch are now much closer to take time off to deal with EQC recovery is “primarily judged in terms their neighbours (if they are still in assessors and insurance companies, of people feeling that they are coping their homes). Knowing the neighbours and maps of where staff live and their with their lives and livelihood, not just and local community has been a great current zoning. Talking and sharing in physical terms” (Gluckman, 2011, support, post disaster. Christchurch stories, people being proactive and p.1). Gluckman says that most people City Council supports and minimally telling co-workers or staff to take time are resilient and will recover in time funds Neighbourhood Week annually, off…and being clear that time off is although a subset of about “5% (or for people to get to know their for their best welfare (Cosgrove, as more) will have on-going significant neighbours and live in strong cited in Eleven, 2011, p. C88) are all psychological morbidity requiring communities. important messages. professional help” (p. 2). Bidwell (2011) argues that a “belief in self Schools. School teachers were for Rest and self care. People are efficacy, adaptive coping and problem many families, the heroes on February being reminded that the adrenalin does solving skills of survivors has 22 as they kept children safe and calm wear out and that rest and looking consistently been found to be a buffer and exercised their duty of care. after themselves is really important, so against persisting distress” (para. 8). Schools are very prepared for disasters that stress levels remain low or Survivors from a number of serious and children have survived there in manageable. Adrenalin however disasters in the US who believed in February and in June 2011, so know borrows “energy from the future and their ability to cope with events and they are safe places. In addition, must be replenished eventually. exercise control over their lives did schools are for many families a natural Tiredness is inevitable” (Aylers, 2011, not experience long-term symptoms village meeting place, and a have a lot para. 5). (Benight & Bandura as cited in of regular routine. Children learn to do Bidwell, 2011). This theme of the turtle posture (huddled on the Attitudes and kindness. Other ground with hands behind their people’s positive attitudes were and

New Zealand Journal of Psychology Vol. 40, No. 4. 2011 • 127 • How Communities in Christchurch have been Coping with Their Earthquake are very helpful as are random acts of kindness. People cooking others meals and taking extra interest and care of their neighbours and each other, has been most appreciated.

Information and helpful insurance company staff. People having useful, up-to-date information, for example from insurance company staff, is most helpful. Many people are living in limbo and unable to make decisions around housing and their future, as the insurance companies are dealing with so many claims at the same time, and are not able to give clear timeframes.

Community participation in the future of the city. A feeling of “self efficacy and community efficacy assists the population in reactivating their coping mechanisms” (Gluckman, 2011, p. 5). So actively promoting community participation is an important factor in recovery. Japan has a model of machizukuri (Nishimura, 2005, p,1) with 100 neighbourhood councils and grassroots processes to help communities rebuild their cities and infrastructures. change, have proved marvellously Figure 12: A new map of NZ adaptable” (van Beynen, 2011, p.c12). Involving and empowering people The humorous question of “What However, there are those who were is useful to “regain some sense of have we got to look forward to in traumatised and may have left the city; control over one’s life” (Gluckman, Canterbury?” is answered with “the some are just getting on and are 2011, p. 3). People being involved in alpine fault (another major earthquake mostly unaffected; some are in denial the future planning of the city is vital risk) erupting” as in Figure 11. and minimising damage and because they then talk about what is interruption and only discuss their happening and get excited and situation if asked directly; some are  committed to the rebuilding. People Figure 11: The Alpine Fault, living in strange places and waiting have been talking about the possibility possibly the next big quake. for insurance companies to process of the new light rail, the new their claims; some are working in odd swimming pool and other proposals places in strange conditions; some are for the new Christchurch. getting information and trying to get some control over the event; some are Humour. Humour is important. desperately trying to get things done. For example, what are the new Some are in the red zone awaiting “a suburbs in Christchurch? Cashmere is decent payout and hoping to find other now Smashmere, Bexley is Hexley homes and lives as living in the red because it's been hit twice with all the zone is a depressing business” (Apps, liquefaction, Bowenvale is now 2011, p. 4). Brokenvale, Huntsbury is now Muntsbury, St Martins is now St The long term measurement of Muntins, Richmond is now Richmunt recovery in Christchurch will be how and Mt Pleasant is now Mt Unpleasant the people come out of it and how (WheelieKiwi , 2011, p. 1). The new lives are rebuilt, not just the quality of map of New Zealand (Klubkiwi, the buildings and the depth of the Final Word 2011) is shown in Figure 12. foundations. Most people with People are in different spaces. difficulties arising from the Christchurch people, “who all have earthquake do not want to be regarded their own stories of often calamitous

• 128 • New Zealand Journal of Psychology Vol. 40, No. 4. 2011 Gawith as needy or desperate but just want to The University of Melbourne website: Liquefaction. Retrieved November 24, be seen as people with ‘extra needs’ or http://www.acpmh.unimelb.edu.au/reso 2011 from similar. urces/resources-community.html http://www.ipenz.org.nz/ipenz/forms/p dfs/ChChFactSheets-Liquefaction.pdf Psychologists have been valuable Aylers, D. (2011, August 23). Post traumatic stress disorder after large Law, T. (2011, August 22). Christchurch in journeying with people and disasters. [Lecture by Douglas Aylers staggers forward as work gets under identifying symptoms and signs of of Harvard University] at Canterbury way. The Press. Retrieved November healthy and unhealthy behaviours and University. Retrieved November 24, 26, 2011 from www.stuff.co.nz reactions to the disaster. Their straight 2011 from talking and practical ideas for children http://www.queenspark.school.nz/Site/ Matthews, P. (2011, December 10). with anxiety and stress have been Parents_Family_Whānau/Christchurch_ Teachers unsung heroes. The Press. helpful and their useful psychological Earthquake.ashx messages have included – McCrone, J. (2011, April 23). Over the Bennett, J. (2011). Earthquake: Top? The Press. Christchurch NZ. 22 Feb 2011 ● most of our behaviour and [Preface]. Auckland, New Zealand: McKenzie-McLean, J. (2011, Aug 24). responses are just usual reactions Random House. to an abnormal or difficult Earthquake could be cause of ‘shock hair loss’. The Press. situation (Gluckman, 2011, p. 5) Bidwell, S. (2011). Long term planning for recovery after disasters: Ensuring Moore, C. (2011). Extraordinary Times. ● it is important to take care of our health in all policies (HiAP): Earthquake: Christchurch NZ. 22 Feb minds, talk about what we Information Sheet 6, Mental Health. 2011. Auckland, New Zealand: witnessed and are worried about Retrieved November 26, 2011, from Random House. or write about it Community and Public Health (CPH) website: ● it is important to replace horrible http://www.cph.co.nz/Files/LTPRecove Natural Hazards Research Platform. images with positive ones, rySheet-06-mentalheal.pdf (2011). Why the 2011 Christchurch particularly for children earthquake is considered an aftershock? Retrieved November 25, Cosgrove, C. (2011, April 19). ● it is important to admit and share 2011 from Christchurch Earthquake Bulletin: emotions naturalhazards.org.nz/NHRP/ Hazard- Labour Party Members Weekly themes/Geological-Hazards/February- Commentary. ● everyone has different tipping 22nd-aftershock/February-2011- points or things that will tip them aftershock over to act or react Dalziel, L. (2011, April 19). Christchurch Earthquake Bulletin: Labour Party Nishimura, Y. (2005). From city planning ● there are different tipping points Members Weekly Commentary. to Machizukuri: A Japanese experience within individuals, within families of community planning. International and within our communities. Dunning & Thornton Consultants. (2011). Community Planning Forum. Retrieved Gluckman (2011) emphasises that Report on the structural performance of November 26, 2011 from ud.t.u- the Hotel Grand Chancellor in the the final phase of recovery has no tokyo.ac.jp/book/2005aij/taipei.pdf earthquake of 22 February 2011. “clear endpoint in that things can Retrieved October 28, 2011 from Van Beynen, M. (2011, April 23). Rocking never return to exactly what they were http://www.dbh.govt.nz/UserFiles/File/ and rolling with the changes. The Press. before the disaster” (p. 2). Recovery is Reports/quake-structural-performance- about rebuilding “people’s lives, not hotel-grand-chancellor.pdf just buildings” (Gluckman, 2011, p. 7) WheelieKiwi. (2011). New sticker for Christchurch residents. Retrieved and that is what is most important for Eleven, B. (2011, April 23). Snap August 21, 2011 from decision: Just doing their job. The the people of Christchurch. At the end www.wheeliekiwi.co.nz. of 2011, it is opportune to reflect back Press. over the year and consider how much Illustration Credits has changed and how many lives, GeoNet. (2011). GeoNet.Canterbuty livelihoods and lifestyles have been quakes. Retrieved November 26, 2011 Figure 1: City of Christchurch, 12:51am, from www.geonet.org.nz effected by our Canterbury earthquake Feb 22, 2011. The image, taken from and how far we still have to go in our high above Christchurch (in the Port Glass, A. (2011, Aug 24). Health impact of Hills) and published on Twitter, shows long journey of recovery. Kia kaha Christchurch quakes investigated. The a cloud of murky dust rising above the Christchurch. Press. tallest buildings and covering the city centre. May 23, 2011 from References Gluckman, P. (2011, 10 May). The http://news.msn.co.nz/article/8216250/ psychosocial consequences of the photo-shows-christchurch-earthquake. Apps, L. (2011, Aug 24). Unlucky, but Canterbury earthquakes. Office of the please don’t toss us aside. The Press. Prime Minister’s Science Advisory The images in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 were Committee. distributed by USAR personnel. We Australian Centre for Posttraumatic were unsuccessful in tracing original Mental Health. (2011). Helping Institution of Professional Engineers of photographers. yourself after a traumatic event. New Zealand (IPENZ). (2011). Retrieved November 28, 2011 from

New Zealand Journal of Psychology Vol. 40, No. 4. 2011 • 129 • How Communities in Christchurch have been Coping with Their Earthquake

Figure 2 and 3: Colombo St (main street), Editor’s Note Feb 22, 2011. USAR Photos Libby Gawith refers in this article to Author Note Figure 4: Anglican Cathedral, The Square, the briefing paper authored by Sir (Feb 23, 2011). USAR Photos Libby Gawith is a Community Peter Gluckman FRS, the Chief Psychologist and Lecturer at Science Advisor to the Prime Minister Figure 5: Catholic Cathedral, Barbados St. Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of of New Zealand. Professor Gluckman USAR Photos Technology, [email protected] is a highly distinguished medical scientist, strongly committed to Figure 6 Hotel Grand Chancellor. Bob making scientific knowledge available Arthurs, Christchurch. to the community. Recognising the need for the government to be well Figures 7 and 8: Liquefaction at the informed on the likely psychological, Palms Shopping Mall, after Feb 22, emotional, and social impacts of the 2011. flickr from Yahoo and originally Christchurch earthquakes, he sought Newstalk ZB input from the specialists at the Joint Figure 9: Kitchen contents everywhere. Centre for Disaster Research and Alumine Andrew. based his valuable article on the best available evidence from the JCDR. Figure 10: Author’s home in This link between scientific expertise “Muntsbury.” Bob Arthurs., at the universities and the CRIs Christchurch (National Hazards Platform) in New Zealand and important government Figure 11: The alpine fault. Otago representatives confirms the value of Regional Council. having such an outstanding scholar providing high quality scientific Figure 12: A new map of NZ, Courtesy of advice to the Prime Minister and Klubkiwi and Twitter; retrieved  Figure 13 Neighbourhood support, Cabinet, as well as the general public, December 20, 2011 from at a time of urgent national need. http://www.klubkiwi.com/2011/05/lates Geoff Trotter t-new-zealand-zoning/

• 130 • New Zealand Journal of Psychology Vol. 40, No. 4. 2011