title: Building seismic resilience for New Zealand - Past, now, and future

authors: Li, Lianyan

abstract: The 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes exposed deficiencies in building performance, particularly in terms of interrupted functionality, extensive downtime, and uneconomical repairability. Amid the increasingly acknowledged emphasis on improving building resilience, the post-earthquake recovery has witnessed the emergence of a series of low-damage designs for retrofitted and newly constructed buildings, alongside a growing recognition of a functionality-centric approach to building codes. By collecting data from a joint US- New Zealand study tour, this research identified the resilience practices that had taken place after the 2010/11 Canterbury earthquakes to enhance building seismic performance in New Zealand. A number of low-damage design solutions have been observed. However, their adoption has also been hindered by factors such as a lack of finance, evidence-based information, skills and expertise, and community engagement, compounded by complexities of legislation requirements. To foster functional recovery-oriented building performance, there needs to be a systemic approach, including 1) sufficient performance validation of more advanced building designs, 2) revisions to building codes to provide an enabling regulatory environment, 3) widespread public education and communication in building risk mitigation, and 4) accessible training programs provided by engineering professional organisations such as Engineering New Zealand (ENZ), New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE), and Structural Engineering Society New Zealand (SESOC) for engineers on low-damage design concepts and risk-targeted design for maintaining functionality.

text: Building seismic resilience for New Zealand - Past, now, and future The 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes exposed deficiencies in building performance, particularly in terms of interrupted functionality, extensive downtime, and uneconomical repairability. Amid the increasingly acknowledged emphasis on improving building resilience, the post-earthquake recovery has witnessed the emergence of a series of low-damage designs for retrofitted and newly constructed buildings, alongside a growing recognition of a functionality-centric approach to building codes. By collecting data from a joint US- New Zealand study tour, this research identified the resilience practices that had taken place after the 2010/11 Canterbury earthquakes to enhance building seismic performance in New Zealand. A number of low-damage design solutions have been observed. However, their adoption has also been hindered by factors such as a lack of finance, evidence-based information, skills and expertise, and community engagement, compounded by complexities of legislation requirements. To foster functional recovery-oriented building performance, there needs to be a systemic approach, including 1) sufficient performance validation of more advanced building designs, 2) revisions to building codes to provide an enabling regulatory environment, 3) widespread public education and communication in building risk mitigation, and 4) accessible training programs provided by engineering professional organisations such as Engineering New Zealand (ENZ), New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE), and Structural Engineering Society New Zealand (SESOC) for engineers on low-damage design concepts and risk-targeted design for maintaining functionality.

year: 2024

title: Forecasting catastrophic stratovolcano collapse: A model based on Mount Taranaki, New Zealand

authors: Zernack, Anke V.

subjects: debris avalanches

abstract: Regular large-scale edifice collapse and regrowth is a common pattern during the long lifespans of andesitic stratovolcanoes worldwide. The >130 k.y. history of Mount Taranaki, New Zealand, is punctuated by at least 14 catastrophic collapses, producing debris avalanche deposits of 1 to >7.5 km³. The largest of these sudden events removed as much as one-third of the present-day equivalent cone. The resulting deposits show similar sedimentary and geomorphic features, suggesting similar proto-edifice characteristics, failure trigger mechanisms, and runout path conditions. Each collapse was followed by sustained renewed volcanism and cone regrowth, although there are no matching stepwise geochemical changes in the magma erupted; instead a stable, slowly evolving magmatic system has prevailed. Last Glacial climatic variations are also uncorrelated with the timing or magnitudes of edifice collapse. We demonstrate here that, if the magmatic composition erupted from stratovolcanoes is constant and basement geology conditions are stable, large-scale edifice collapse and the generation of catastrophic debris avalanches will be governed by the magma supply rate. Using a mass balance approach, a volume-frequency model can be applied to forecasting both the probable timing and volume of future edifice failure of such stratovolcanoes. In the Mount Taranaki case, the maximum potential size of a present collapse is estimated to be 7.9 km³, while the maximum interval before the next collapse is <16.2 k.y. The current annual collapse probability is ∼0.00018, with the most likely collapse being a small one (<2 km³).

text: Forecasting catastrophic stratovolcano collapse: A model based on Mount Taranaki, New Zealand Regular large-scale edifice collapse and regrowth is a common pattern during the long lifespans of andesitic stratovolcanoes worldwide. The >130 k.y. history of Mount Taranaki, New Zealand, is punctuated by at least 14 catastrophic collapses, producing debris avalanche deposits of 1 to >7.5 km³. The largest of these sudden events removed as much as one-third of the present-day equivalent cone. The resulting deposits show similar sedimentary and geomorphic features, suggesting similar proto-edifice characteristics, failure trigger mechanisms, and runout path conditions. Each collapse was followed by sustained renewed volcanism and cone regrowth, although there are no matching stepwise geochemical changes in the magma erupted; instead a stable, slowly evolving magmatic system has prevailed. Last Glacial climatic variations are also uncorrelated with the timing or magnitudes of edifice collapse. We demonstrate here that, if the magmatic composition erupted from stratovolcanoes is constant and basement geology conditions are stable, large-scale edifice collapse and the generation of catastrophic debris avalanches will be governed by the magma supply rate. Using a mass balance approach, a volume-frequency model can be applied to forecasting both the probable timing and volume of future edifice failure of such stratovolcanoes. In the Mount Taranaki case, the maximum potential size of a present collapse is estimated to be 7.9 km³, while the maximum interval before the next collapse is <16.2 k.y. The current annual collapse probability is ∼0.00018, with the most likely collapse being a small one (<2 km³).

year: 2012

title: Hangaia te mātāpuna o te mōhio: learning foundations for Māori adults

authors: May, Stephen

subjects: Māori

abstract: Hangaia te mātāpuna o te mōhio can mean to build the precious gift of knowledge or to build the well-spring of learning. It symbolises the experience of Māori adults as they re-enter education to develop their literacy, language and numeracy. 
This report summarises three research projects that explore how success for Māori adults in the learning foundations of literacy, language and numeracy can be built on the foundations of Māori culture and identity.

text: Hangaia te mātāpuna o te mōhio: learning foundations for Māori adults Hangaia te mātāpuna o te mōhio can mean to build the precious gift of knowledge or to build the well-spring of learning. It symbolises the experience of Māori adults as they re-enter education to develop their literacy, language and numeracy. 
This report summarises three research projects that explore how success for Māori adults in the learning foundations of literacy, language and numeracy can be built on the foundations of Māori culture and identity.

year: 2009-08