Natural hazards in the spotlight at UC
15 August 2012
Experts from NZ and overseas will discuss disaster warnings, responses and recovery trends at a major Australasian natural hazards management conference at UC next week.
Dr Tom Wilson
Experts from all over New Zealand and overseas will discuss disaster warnings, responses and recovery trends at a major Australasian natural hazards management conference at the University of Canterbury next week.
More than 250 researchers and specialists will attend the conference on 22 and 23 August, which is expected to feature the Christchurch earthquakes and also the grounding of the MV Rena off Tauranga.
One of the organisers, UC lecturer Dr Tom Wilson (Geological Sciences), said the event had attracted widespread support from Australia and the United States.
"There is strong interest from overseas for this conference which is being held in a disaster zone city which has sustained so many earthquakes.
"A large number of CERA and central government officials are also attending as research and practitioners combine to find some answers to dealing with disasters," Dr Wilson said.
The Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 have provided natural hazards specialists with an opportunity to look at the response of the Civil Defence, city council, fire, military, police and urban search and rescue.
Also, the grounding of the MV Rena off the coast of Tauranga in 2011 provides an opportunity to reflect on the reactions by Maritime New Zealand, the area's regional council and Department of Conservation.
Some of the many papers will look at the earthquake insurance, Christchurch’s residential rebuild, volcanic eruption warning challenges, behavioural responses to Christchurch’s earthquakes, Napier’s earthquake 80 years later, and relocating businesses after Christchurch’s earthquakes.
For more information please contact:
Kip Brook
Media Consultant
Communications and External Relations
Ph: (03) 364 8807
Mobile: 027 503 0168
christopher.brook@canterbury.ac.nz
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