Land Environment & People miscellaneous publications

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  • PublicationOpen Access
    An inventory of community-led recovery initiatives in Canterbury
    (Lincoln University. Faculty of Environment, Society and Design, 2012) Peryman, P. B.; Vallance, Suzanne A.
    Though there is a broad consensus that communities play a key role in disaster response and recovery, most of the existing work in this area focuses on the activities of donor agencies, formal civil defence authorities, and local/central government. Consequently, there is a paucity of research addressing the on-going actions and activities undertaken by communities and ‘emergent groups’ , particularly as they develop after the immediate civil defence or ‘response’ phase is over. In an attempt to address this gap, this inventory of community-led recovery initiatives was undertaken approximately one year after the most devastating February 2011 earthquake. It is part of on-going project at Lincoln University documenting – and seeking a better understanding of - various emergent communities’ roles in recovery, their challenges, and strategies for overcoming them. This larger project also seeks to better understand how collaborative work between informal and formal recovery efforts might be facilitated at different stages of the process. This inventory was conducted over the December 2011 – February 2012 period and builds on Landcare Research’s Christchurch Earthquake Activity Inventory which was a similar snapshot taken in April 2011. The intention behind conducting this updated inventory is to gain a longitudinal perspective of how community-led recovery activities evolve over time. Each entry is ordered alphabetically and contact details have been provided where possible. A series of keywords have also been assigned that describe the main attributes of each activity to assist searches within this document.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Urban resilience: Bouncing back, coping, thriving
    (AST Management, 2012-04) Vallance, Suzanne A.
    The recent Christchurch earthquakes provide a unique opportunity to better understand the relationship between pre-disaster social fault-lines and post-disaster community fracture. As a resident of Christchurch, this paper presents some of my reflections on the social structures and systems, activities, attitudes and decisions that have helped different Canterbury ‘communities’ along their road to recovery, and highlights some issues that have, unfortunately, held us back. These reflections help answer the most crucial question asked of disaster scholarship: what can recovery agencies (including local authorities) do - both before and after disaster - to promote resilience and facilitate recovery. This paper – based on three different definitions of resilience - presents a thematic account of the social recovery landscape. I argue that ‘coping’ might best be associated with adaptive capacity, however ‘thriving’ or ‘bounce forward’ versions of resilience are a function of a community’s participative capacity.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Tourism, the weather and future changes
    Becken, Susanne; Hendrikx, J.; Wilson, Judith; Hughey, Kenneth F. D.
    Tourism often depends on the weather for participation, satisfaction, safety, and business viability. Climate models predict increasing temperatures, changing intensity and distribution of rainfall, decreased snowfall, and sea level rise. Our study will focus on present variability and direction of change, and short-term adaptation options, but also consider future scenarios.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Climate variability and climate change: implications for tourism
    Becken, Susanne; Hendrikx, J.
    Tourism often depends on the weather for participation, satisfaction, safety, and business viability. Tourism also depends on natural resources and environmental attractions. Climate models predict increasing temperatures, changing intensity and distribution of rainfall, decreased snow cover, and sea level rise. The tourism industry needs to plan proactively and adapt to variability and change.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Developing a resilience framework to assess tourisms' response to climatic events
    (Lincoln University. LEaP., 2011-07) Becken, Susanne
    What is resilience? Described as a “… measure of the persistence of systems and of their ability to absorb change and disturbance and still maintain the same relationships between populations or state variables” (Holling, 1973:14) The essence of resilience thinking is that it explicitly seeks to address change rather than avoid it.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Climate change response: a report to establish the knowledge required for a TIANZ response and policy formulation with the Government post Kyoto Protocol ratification
    (2002) Turney, I.; Becken, Susanne; Butcher, G.; Patterson, M.; Hart, P.; Simmons, David G.
    The Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand commissioned this report ‘as a definitive reference point for the Tourism sector with regard to its greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂) and the potential impacts on the sector, in order to establish the underpinning knowledge required for a subsequent TIANZ response and policy formulation with the Government post the Kyoto Protocol ratification’. The value of the tourism sector, in terms of GDP and employment is self-evident but there is also growing awareness of the New Zealand environment by the international market which is critical to New Zealand’s future prosperity. Both the tourism sector and the Government recognise the importance of the ‘state of New Zealand’s environment’ and the need to genuinely sustain the image of ‘100% Pure New Zealand’, as it is implicitly linked to maintaining credibility and growth in a highly competitive market.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Responsible aviation and peak oil
    (Lincoln University. LEaP., 2011-06) Becken, Susanne
    This presentation addresses the question of what responsible aviation means, and who the recipient of such responsibility would be: for example local communities, the global environment, employees or shareholders. It also argues that the focus of responsibility depends on key parameters that define the context in which airlines and other parties involved in the operation of air travel make decisions. The two specific situations of climate change and peak oil are discussed in more detail to illustrate how different kinds of ‘future worlds’ influence what responsible aviation means. While some initiatives, such as fuel efficiency of aircraft, would be similar under climate change and peak oil scenarios, there are also important points of difference. These are discussed against the background of ’responsible’ actions already implemented in the aviation sector.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Who is protecting tourists in New Zealand from severe weather hazards?: an exploration of the role of locus of responsibility in protective behaviour decisions
    (Lincoln University. LEaP, 2011) Becken, Susanne; Jeuring, J.
    Much of New Zealand's tourism industry is focused on 'the outdoors', capitalising on its natural environment and attractions. However, this 'product' makes New Zealand tourism vulnerable to environmental variability and disturbances, including the weather. As a consequence, New Zealand weather has a significant impact on the industry in terms of operations, tourist satisfaction, and tourist safety. This paper presents the results of a study on how tourists in New Zealand anticipate possible hazardous weather events, to what extent they prepare themselves, and their information preferences (type and source) that help them to stay safe when severe weather occurs.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Weather, climate and tourism: a New Zealand perspective
    (Lincoln University. Faculty of Environment, Society and Design., 2010) Becken, Susanne; Wilson, Jude; Reisinger, Andy
    In the summer of 2009/10 Lincoln University researchers surveyed 436 international tourists to find out how the weather and climate affects their travel in New Zealand. This document presents a selection of data collected via a number of open-ended questions in the survey; the data are shown as a series of ‘word clouds’ in which greater prominence is given to words that appear more frequently in the source text.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Report on the first consultation of tourism stakeholders in the Far North
    (Lincoln University. LEaP, 2010-07) Becken, Susanne
    The weather is very important to tourism: it allows tourists to participate in a wide range of activities, influences satisfaction and affects a business’ bottom line. Climate change will change how weather impacts on tourism: it will provide new opportunities and exacerbate existing challenges. While we can not influence the weather or the climate we can proactively reduce our vulnerability, manage negative impacts and prepare for likely changes. Lincoln University in partnership with Victoria University and NIWA is researching the relationship between tourism and the weather, with a longer term view of changing climatic conditions in New Zealand. As a result of our research we would like to share best practice and provide tools for businesses to improve their access to weather information, risk assessment and adaptation measures. This report provides background information on the Northland case study (alongside a case study of the Southern Lakes) and summarises first insights gained from a stakeholder consultation on the 14 and 15 July. Meetings were held with the Far North District Council, Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi, Taitokerau Maori & Cultural Tourism Association, and Destination Northland and five tourism operators.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Preparing the tourism sector for climate change
    (Lincoln University. LEaP, 2010-04) Becken, Susanne; Reisinger, A.
    The objectives of this workshop were threefold: To inform national level stakeholders and experts about the research project and results to date; To obtain input and feedback from participants about tourism’s vulnerability to climate change and adaptive capacity; To identify and discuss suitable case studies for further exploration.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Tourists and the weather
    (2010) Becken, Susanne; Wilson, Judith
    In the summer season of 2009/10, 436 international visitors were surveyed to gain a better understanding of how they currently use climate and weather information and what could be done to enhance their experience by providing different information.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    A national-level screening exercise to assess tourism’s vulnerability to climate change
    (Lincoln University. LEaP, 2010) Becken, Susanne; Butcher, G.; Edmonds, J.; Hendrikx, J.; Hughey, Kenneth F. D.; Reisinger, A.; Wilson, Judith
    It is widely acknowledged that over the 21st century the global community will need to adapt to the effects of climate change. Current climate models predict that New Zealand will experience increasing temperatures, changing frequency, intensity and distribution of rainfall events, decreased snow cover and sea level rise. Such changes will impact on key regional tourism drivers such as destination attractiveness, product content, business profitability, infrastructure planning and investment. Changes will manifest locally and will uniquely affect individual tourist destinations, communities and businesses. An ability to respond is therefore vital. Thus, the overarching goals of this research are: • Identifying which parts of the tourism industry are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change; • Developing key indicators which allow tourism businesses to measure, assess and track their vulnerability to climate change; • Establishing what adaptation measures are most appropriate for minimising vulnerability to the effects of climate change; and • Providing the tools necessary to achieving effective management, not only in terms of reducing vulnerability to climate change but also in identifying opportunities for taking advantage of a changing climate. This background paper will outline progress to date in relating to understanding tourism’s vulnerability at a national level. Following this stage, detailed analysis on vulnerability, indicators and adaptation measures will be undertaken in three case studies.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Fuelling tourism – how important is oil
    (Lincoln University. LEaP., 2010-04) Becken, Susanne
    Over the last decades tourist operators would have observed that oil prices have gone up and down, but generally more up than down. In other words oil prices have been extremely volatile, overlying a trend of increasing prices. So, what can tourism operators expect in the future? Probably more of this. The question now is what is being done to prepare for these changes and reduce vulnerability to higher oil prices.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    The impact of climate variability on tourism businesses in Wanaka and Queenstown
    (Lincoln University. Environment, Society and Design Division, 2010) Becken, Susanne; Wilson, Judith; Hendrikx, J.; Hughey, Kenneth F. D.
    This report summarises the findings from 27 operator interviews in Wanaka and Queenstown (June 2010). The main goal of the interviews was to identify which climatic factors are relevant to the different kinds of tourism businesses and how sensitive the businesses’ operation and economic viability are to specific conditions. Interviewees were also asked about the measures they put in place to deal with favourable or adverse weather conditions. The focus of the interviews was on the winter season, but relevant information on summer activities was included as well.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    The price of tourism in the context of global oil prices
    (Lincoln University. LEaP., 2008-12) Becken, Susanne; Carboni, A.; Schiff, A.; Vuletich, S.; Small, J.
    Tourism in its present form is inherently dependent on oil. Tourism transport almost exclusively runs on fossil fuels and also other components of the tourism product such as accommodation or attractions rely on the input of oil into their production. Consequently, global oil prices, alongside other factors, are influencing the price a tourist has to pay, depending on how exactly they compose their tourism ‘consumption bundle’. For the case of New Zealand, the consumption bundles of 18 tourist segments (based on country of origin, travel style and purpose) were derived and changes in price between 1997 and 2007 were observed. The results show that transport related components increased in price above inflation rates, and segments that relied heavily on transport were therefore more affected than those whose consumption centred on sectors such as accommodation and retail. Moreover, comparisons with exchange rates show that the relative price of tourism in New Zealand is determined more by currency fluctuations than by other price effects, including that of oil. These results alongside with econometric models that relate international arrivals to oil price, and a tourism Computable General Equilibrium model will allow to assess those parts of tourism that will be most affected by global oil prices.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Tourism's exposure to global oil price
    (2008) Becken, Susanne
    Tourism is an increasingly important economic activity globally. At the same time, it is extremely dependent on oil, not only for tourists’ mobility but also for other core elements of tourism such as recreational activities at the destination. Forecasts for tourism growth are generally optimistic, but they fail to take into account potential changes in global oil price and effects on arrival numbers. It is timely to consider how tourism might change given incremental or rapid increases in oil price.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Oil, the global economy and tourism
    Becken, Susanne
    The availability and price of oil are intimately linked to the global economyand as a result to tourism. This paper presents the results from research ontourism and oil, undertaken with a particular focus on New Zealand as a long hauldestination in the light of dwindling global oil resources.The findings of four distinct research phases will be reported in anintegrative analysis.The results highlight that economic prosperity in countries of origin, andin particular tourists’ income, is of critical importance for outbound tourism, especiallyto long haul destinations. The econometric analysis of in-country behaviour,such as consumption and regional dispersion, reveal that variables such as countryof origin, travel purpose or length of stay are currently more important determinantsof travel behaviour than fuel prices. Coupled with differentiated oil vulnerabilities by different countriesand different levels of price elasticity, the importance of market mix becomes evident.Tourism businesses can reduce their oil vulnerability by addressing a range ofrisk factors. Government policy and industry initiatives can support these microeconomic adaptation processes.Little research is available on the importance of oil shocks for tourismand this paper is an attempt to address this gap. The findings are specific to NewZealand but will be of interest to other long-haul destinations. The analysis integratesacross a range of research methods.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Who has the most sunshine? The battle for the most attractive destination
    (Lincoln University. Department of Social Science, Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport., 2010-11) Wilson, Judith; Becken, Susanne
    Climate and weather is important for tourism and leisure as it impacts on destination attractiveness and subsequent visitation. Through an archive analysis of media articles and a content analysis of RTO websites this paper explores potential deficiencies in the currently available climate and weather information for tourists in New Zealand. While media reports focused on concern by many RTOs over the poor regional images generated by inaccurate and poorly presented climate and weather data, the RTO websites were found to contain limited climate and weather information. There is considerable potential for RTOs to improve in this respect.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    The implications of peak oil for travel and tourism
    (Lincoln University. Department of Social Science, Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport., 2010) Becken, Susanne
    The implications of peak oil for travel and tourism are described in this presentation, covering tourism opportunities, future constraints, the importance of oil and its price volitility. The implications for the New Zealand economy and the vunerability of products and businesses are discussed along with risk assessment.