Local Gov Life

The Canterbury Earthquake sequence from 2010 to 2012 became known as the worst natural disaster in the history of New Zealand. Though it struck first and hardest in September 2010, it was an aftershock six months later near Christ Church that proved to be most devastating. It claimed lives and property and the affected communities are still recovering seven years later. Waimakariri District Council Local Government Manager and ICMA member Simon Markham quickly found himself in an unexpected role: leading through the disaster and recovery. Though he was not an emergency management professional, he tapped his strong expertise in community engagement and communication to build community trust and resilience. The Waimakariri District, which has a population of about 60,000, is part of greater Christ Church, a metropolitan area of 450,000. The earthquake caused widespread damage across Christchurch, killing 185 people and causing billions of dollars worth of property damage. Markham describes the problem of liquef