Local scale case study

• Social character

  median age 37.1 years, strong community, 77.9% European, English is the most spoken language, low crime rates, oldest established city in NZ, known as garden city, 3 unis, low population density
• Economic character

  median income $32,900 vs $31,800 nationally, 50.3% employed full time, second largest manufacturing center in NZ, agricultural industry is the economic core of christchurch
• Political character

  low level of corruption - 4th lowest

  stable democracy, high levels of govt investment in hazard resilience
• How social character affected the impacts of the earthquake

  low population density -> reduced death toll

  able population -> less vunerable

  old buildings -> damage easily, 115 died from CTV building collapse

  garden city -> open safe space
• How economic character affected the impacts of the earthquake

  many had insurance

  $40 billion for repairs (20% of 2011 GDP) - short lived impact on national economy
• How political character affected the impacts of the earthquake

  strict building codes in place since 1935, well developed hazard resilience program mitigated impacts
• How social character affected the responses to the earthquake

  strong community -> all survivours rescued within 24 hours, farmy army
• How economic character affected the responses to the earthquake


  construction industry meant there are skilled workers to help rebuild

  agricultural industry -> farmy army

  $40 billion for repairs (20% of 2011 GDP) - short lived impact on national economy
• How political character affected the responses to the earthquake

  established hazard resilience program --> full emergency action plan within 2 hours, state of emergency declared witjin 5 days

  get ready website and educational campaigns