A series of six weekly lectures starting 17 July The last two
years brought the unpredictable nature of New Zealand’s natural
and man-made hazards to the fore. Christchurch’s major
earthquake and its devastating aftershocks, the Pike River mine
disaster, the Rena oil spill, heavy rain and snow falls,
tornadoes and other unexpected events overstretched the
country’s infrastructure, caused loss of life and livelihood,
and tested the strength and resilience of everyday New
Zealanders. This series of lectures explores New Zealand’s
disasters - the risks we face and the responses we make to those
risks. Experts and scholars from, or connected with, The
University of Auckland will share their knowledge and skills on
a selection of topics from geology and engineering to media and
education. • Lecture 1, Tuesday 17 July Professor Saville
Kushner, Faculty of Education: Disaster and democracy: a global
perspective. Much ridicule was once made of the fact that aid
packs handed out in third world emergencies and disaster