A tale of two communities: B-race-ing disaster responses in the media following the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes.

Abstract

Iwi have historically enacted kaitiakitanga for their respective regions. Contemporary iwi act accordingly to ensure the wellbeing of local Māori as well as the broader community and environment during adversity. Anecdotal evidence and scrutiny of recent media reports suggest there has been a marked increase in the level of recognition accorded to Māori disaster response actions and a recognizable shift in the way Māori disaster management approaches are represented by the media. This article examines how Māori responses were represented by the media following both natural hazard events. It also considers the construction of Māori cultural identity in the context of disaster management practices. Dissatisfaction amongst Māori over public representation and legitimisation of Māori response capabilities is also discussed. The lack of formal engagement with Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu as a partner in the Hurunui/Kaikōura earthquake recovery process suggests further strategic development is required to ensure appropriate recognition of iwi as statutory partners within the disaster management infrastructure and policy making processes.