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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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  • Shabana Khan
  • M. Crozier
  • David Kennedy

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. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

Suggested Citation

  • Shabana Khan & M. Crozier & David Kennedy, 2012. "Influences of place characteristics on hazards, perception and response: a case study of the hazardscape of the Wellington Region, New Zealand," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 62(2), pages 501-529, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:62:y:2012:i:2:p:501-529
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-012-0091-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Rianne van Duinen & Tatiana Filatova & Peter Geurts & Anne van der Veen, 2015. "Empirical Analysis of Farmers' Drought Risk Perception: Objective Factors, Personal Circumstances, and Social Influence," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(4), pages 741-755, April.
    3. Madhuri & H. Tewari & P. Bhowmick, 2015. "Ingenuity of skating on marshy land by tying a pot to the belly: Living with flood is a way of life," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 17(6), pages 1287-1311, December.

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