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Influences of place characteristics on hazards, perception and response: a case study of the hazardscape of the Wellington Region, New Zealand

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Abstract

The biophysical characteristics of a place not only bring variations in natural hazards, but also influence people’s associated perception and response to the hazard. Although these influences are noted in the literature, their relationship has been less explored for planning hazard mitigation and disaster response. This paper evaluates the role of place in a hazardscape by using a case study of the Wellington Region, New Zealand. The study explores the differences between the physical and perceived susceptibility to natural hazards and how this affects people’s response to a hazard. The analysis is based on a questionnaire survey and interviews conducted with local people. It finds that disparities between physical and perceived hazard susceptibility engender different motivations and types of response. A close alignment of the two produces a high response rate for earthquakes and droughts, whereas a significant divergence leads to a poor response as observed for volcanic ash fall. The relationship, however, is not linear, as indicated by the poor response even to such well-perceived hazards as tsunami and bushfire. The reasons behind this uneven response can be related back to place characteristics, such as the nature of hazard susceptibility, as well as factors such as fatalism or blasé effect. It is concluded that mapping physical and perceived susceptibility to hazards over space, understanding their relationship and ultimately narrowing the gap between perception and reality can contribute to effective hazard management at a place.

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Abbreviations

CDEM:

Civil Defence and Emergency Management

GWRC:

Greater Wellington Regional Council

GNS:

Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd

NIWA:

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

VUW:

Victoria University of Wellington

WELA:

Wairarapa Engineering Lifeline Association

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the research grant provided by the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington to support this paper. We also give our sincere thanks to the Greater Wellington Regional Council, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research and Victoria University of Wellington for data supply, friends for helping with the field work and the local people of the Wellington Region for giving their precious time and generous response. The authors are also grateful to Dr. Dallice Sim for providing statistical guidance and to the anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions for this manuscript which helped to improve this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

    Shabana Khan & M. J. Crozier

  2. The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    David Kennedy

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  1. Shabana Khan
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  2. M. J. Crozier
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Correspondence to Shabana Khan.

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Khan, S., Crozier, M.J. & Kennedy, D. Influences of place characteristics on hazards, perception and response: a case study of the hazardscape of the Wellington Region, New Zealand. Nat Hazards 62, 501–529 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-012-0091-y

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