The New Zealand Experience of a Design-Led Approach to Post-Earthquake Recovery in Christchurch

Abstract

This paper evaluates the masterplan for Christchurch which was conceived in the wake of the 2011 earthquakes, against projects completed in the intervening 8 years, paying special attention to three key objectives of the blueprint: a low-rise/compact core, a green city, and an accessible city. The paper finds that the design-led, top down, recovery approach forms a minimal framework for recovery, and that successful regeneration following the recovery phase will require significant community engagement and coherent governance.