Paper Number 59 Reflections on Aspects of New Zealand’s Seismic Resilience: Comparisons with Californian Practice

Conference ABSTRACT: Observing and reflecting on the earthquake practices of another country is one means of assessing the relative progress being made in one’s own country towards improving its seismic resilience. During a three month stay in California, personal observations broadly linked to structural engineering issues were made of a range of earthquake engineering endeavours. The areas discussed in the paper comprise seismic hazard awareness, construction of residential buildings, seismic retrofitting of earthquake-prone buildings, new construction, introduction of new technologies and architectural detailing for seismic movements. Overall, it appears New Zealand practice is in step with that of California. Even though both regions appear to have some similar strengths and weaknesses there are a number ways New Zealand can learn from current Californian practice.