Tangata Whairoa: Geographies of care in a post-disaster landscape

Abstract

The recent (and ongoing) earthquakes in Christchurch radically altered the physical and psycho-social landscapes of the city. This research presents two analyses of data collected in collaboration with a Kaupapa Maori service provider in the dynamic post-disaster contexts of a devastated city. Semi-structured interviews provide rich narratives of personal experiences of a massive urban disaster with key themes of family, housing and accommodation, and rapid service provider support. This data also enables a Social Network Analysis of support networks in which key nodes and pathways outline geographies of care and trust which are culturally attuned to leverage off Maori institutions and practices. Results point to a more efficient and comprehensive coverage of what is too often considered a vulnerable community but whose experiences actually point to a great resilience.