Work

Building community resilience: learning from the Canterbury earthquakes

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Internationally, enhancing community resilience is considered key to disaster management. Factors that affect community resilience from a community perspective are explored across six communities. The research occurred following a series of devastating earthquakes in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Results show that connected communities with pre‐existing community infrastructure (e.g. community and tribal organisations, local leaders) found it easier to adapt after the earthquakes. Existing hardship was exacerbated by disaster. The research sheds light on how to foster resilient communities and the importance of doing this because resilient communities cope better with, and recover faster from, crises. However, communities need to be sufficiently resourced to carry out their vital role.

Source: Kōtuitui New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online

DOI: 10.1080/1177083x.2014.934846

Authors: L Thornley, J Ball, L Signal, K Lawson‐Te Aho, E Rawson

Institutions: Quigley and Watts (New Zealand), University of Otago, Canterbury District Health Board

Language: English

Topic: Disaster Management and Resilience

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, Health Research Council of New Zealand