VOLCANO MADNESS: [Geology2] E-quake news from New Zealand

Monday, October 3, 2011

[Geology2] E-quake news from New Zealand

Health impacts of earthquakes to be researched

Voxy News Engine

Monday, 3 October, 2011

Health impacts of earthquakes to be researched

The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) and the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation (CMRF) have made a joint investment into five research projects, which explore the health implications of the Canterbury earthquakes.

The five projects have been funded through a funding partnership between the HRC and the CMRF, which was created to provide opportunities for researchers to undertake translational research projects, which investigate the impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on health and health services.

"Each of the research proposals selected has the potential to generate important knowledge which will be of national and international significance," says Dr Robin Olds, HRC Chief Executive.

"This knowledge will contribute towards a greater understanding of the health implications of seismic events and other disasters, and will be of tremendous value in planning both current and future health systems' responses to disasters in Canterbury, elsewhere in New Zealand and internationally," says Guy Johnson, Director, CMRF.

The recently funded projects will focus on important health issues arising from the Canterbury earthquakes, including a project by Professor Michael Ardagh from the Canterbury District Health Board, whose research will be the first in the world to overview a complete health care response to a major earthquake, where the entire response was from local providers who were also affected by the disaster.

Dr Cameron Lacey from the University of Otago, Christchurch, will explore the links between stress, genes and certain heart problems in a project involving a cohort of 30 patients.??

Dr David McBride from the University of Otago, Dunedin, will conduct research into the demands faced by first response workers, including fire fighters, St John, military and utility workers, construction and demolition workers, the Police, M?ori wardens, Red Cross, Non Government Organisations and teachers. The project will investigate how these first responders to a natural disaster cope and what enables them to perform their roles.

Dr Kathy Peri from The University of Auckland aims to explore the on-going impact of the Christchurch earthquakes on older peoples' health in primary health care, one year post the Christchurch earthquakes.

Ms Louise Thornley, from Quigley and Watts will examine the factors influencing community resilience and how these factors might be encouraged to better prepare communities for future disasters, and to provide advice to public health, social services and policy makers on how to build community resilience.

source

Insurers Halting Earthquake Coverage in New Zealand

Ansvar Insurance announced it will no longer offer coverage anywhere in the country, while Zurich will stop writing new coverage outside of Auckland, Northland, and Waikato.

Oct 03, 2011

Two companies that had provided earthquake coverage to businesses and homeowners in New Zealand announced last week that they will stop offering it throughout the country, in the case of Ansvar Insurance, or will no longer offer coverage outside of Auckland, Northland, and Waikato -- which leaves out the earthquake-prone city of Christchurch, where there was extensive damage from a powerful earthquake in February 2011.

Bernard Hickey, managing editor of Interest.co.nz, a service providing research and information about banks and financial institutions in the country, reported both announcements, which quickly were picked up by New Zealand's news media.

Hickey reported that Ansvar is the largest insurer of churches and heritage buildings in New Zealand and sustained $700 million in losses from the February earthquake. In an interview, Ansvar's chief executive for Australia and New Zealand, told Hickey the damage was greater for his company than for other insurers because Ansvar insured so many stone buildings. He said the risk of future earthquakes and the high cost of reinsurance drove the decision.