Natural Events: Earthquake | Rū whenua

Whāinga ako: Lesson Goals

We are learning to describe the impact that natural disasters can have on people, communities, and the environment.
We are learning how societies prepare and respond to disasters.

Sensitive Topic Warning: This includes discussions about earthquakes, which may be upsetting for some students, especially those with personal experiences. If you need support or prefer to step out, please let your teacher know. 

Civil Emergency

This is a diagram of a geological event. A civil emergency has been declared. Take a careful look at it.

The Christchurch Earthquakes

Christchurch was hit by two very large earthquakes a short time apart. The first one was 2010 and the second 2011. Because the first one was centered in Darfield and was 4:35am, it did not have as much of an impact as you might expect for a large quake- power was cut in Christchurch, people were injured and two people died.

On 22 February 2011, at 12:51 pm a powerful earthquake struck closer to Christchurch. It was a 6.2 magnitude quake, centered just 6.7 km from the city. 185 people lost their lives, making it one of New Zealand’s worst disasters. The earthquake caused severe damage, especially to buildings already weakened by a big earthquake in September 2010. The ground in some areas turned to soft, wet silt (a process called liquefaction), which made the damage even worse. People across the South Island and parts of the North Island felt the quake. Even though it only lasted about 10 seconds, its shallow depth and location made it extremely destructive. Many homes, roads, and schools were damaged, and some people had to leave Christchurch to find new places to live.

Rebuilding the city has cost over $44.8 billion, making it New Zealand’s most expensive natural disaster. Christchurch has changed a lot since then, but the impact of the earthquake is still felt today.

Christchurch's Recovery

Student Volunteer Army

After the earthquake many people felt they needed to help but were unsure how they could help. 

Greening the Red Zone

The 2010/2011 earthquakes showed why natural processes must be considered in urban planning. The land near the Ōtākaro/Avon River had weak soils, which led to liquefaction, sinking, and cracking. Because of this, over 5000 homes were removed, creating what is now known as the Red Zone—a large empty space covering 602 hectares.

The council made the bold decision to not rebuild in areas that were greatly affected by the earthquake. Most of these were close to the river because the type of land there moved more than other areas (and there was more liquefaction). This area was called the Red Zone as all the houses there were given a red sticker on their door to say they couldn't be inhabited.

While losing homes was difficult for many families, it also created an opportunity: turning the area into a ‘green spine’—a natural corridor connecting the city to the coast.

To view the changes in Christchurch you can use Google Earth in Historical Imagery at the top there is a timeline which you can move through the years and view the ways things changed.

In 2019, a Regeneration Plan was created with input from the community, and in 2021, the land officially began transferring to the City Council. The goal is to restore the area, making it a place for nature and cultural practices like mahinga kai (traditional food gathering).

To do this, experts are using mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), technology, and creative solutions to fix the damage left by the earthquakes. However, challenges remain—especially as climate change is making some parts of the land sink even more due to rising sea levels.

This project is not just about Christchurch—it provides important lessons for other cities facing environmental risks.