Disasters, Displacement, and Disruption: Children and Young People’s Experience of Spatial Change Following Disasters

Abstract

In 2010 and 2011, Christchurch, New Zealand, suffered two major earthquakes followed by a prolonged period of aftershocks that carried on for several years. After the quake some 70,000 people left the city, including many families. In Christchurch, in common with disasters internationally, the earthquake resulted in a prolonged period of locational uncertainty and flux for families, for those who fled and those who stayed. This chapter presents and explores children and young people's responses to the earthquake, focusing on the disruption it caused and how this impacted on children and young people's attachment to place. Children's voices are seldom heard in the post-disaster period because they are usually cast in the role of victim, in need of welfare support. Although support is important, children's and young people's roles as active participants in the post-disaster recovery process tend to be overlooked. If children's needs are to be fully met post-disaster, their contributions to recovery must be facilitated and valued.