New Zealand: Disaster Response and Recovery and the Role of Built Environment Professionals

Overview

In early 2023 significant flooding events devastated parts of Aotearoa New Zealand. The impact was huge, the recovery is ongoing. Global climate change and Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique natural environment mean we can expect future events that will disrupt and challenge us. We need to be prepared! This webinar explores what ‘prepared’ looks like. It will discuss learnings from past events, key stakeholder experiences, and consider how built environment professionals and key stakeholders can ensure they are ready to respond and support our communities following future events.

Learning outcomes

This webinar aims to help attendees better understand some of the challenges faced by property and infrastructure stakeholders in the response and recovery phases following weather-related and natural disasters. It will reflect on learnings from these events and how these can help inform preparation for response and recovery from future events.

Speakers

John Rennie

John is a Director at Maynard Marks. With over 30 years experience in the construction industry both as a building surveyor and a designer, he leads Maynard Marks’ Auckland-based building surveying team providing the full range of building surveying services to a diverse, nation-wide client base. John specialises in providing advice to insurers to help resolve complex claims. He coordinated damage assessment services Maynard Marks provided in the wake of flooding in the Hawkes Bay region following Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.

Andrew Livermore

Andrew is Beca’s Director of Disaster Readiness and Response. He brings over 20 years of broad experience in infrastructure management and project delivery, having worked as a client, consultant and contractor. His experience includes capital works and maintenance, both road and rail, and spans across New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands and the United Kingdom. He was involved in the establishment of the Christchurch and Kaikoura infrastructure recovery alliances, and understands the complex challenges faced post disaster by infrastructure owners.

Mat Tucker

Mat is Auckland Council’s Group Recovery Manager. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer (CEng) and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (FICE), bringing almost 30 years of experience in operational delivery, project leadership in construction, both nationally and internationally. His experience includes forming and leading multi-billion dollar infrastructure recovery and disaster recovery programmes, including earthquakes, floods and cyclones. He has led large teams and supported communities, and brings specific insights from recovery programmes and housing delivery programmes in both Auckland and Christchurch.