Acting Director
Tel +64 3 479 9244
Mob +64 21 077 8888
Email caroline.orchiston@otago.ac.nz
Research background
Caroline’s background in both earth and social sciences involves research on aspects of tourism disaster resilience and recovery, community and business resilience, and scenario planning for impacts to critical infrastructure and emergency management during earthquake disasters. Her PhD and Postdoctoral research investigated tourism in areas of high seismic risk (Southern Alps and Canterbury, New Zealand), focussing on pre-disaster planning and preparedness (Alpine Fault zone) and post-disaster impacts and recovery amongst tourism enterprises and stakeholders (Canterbury earthquake sequence). Since 2010, Caroline has also been involved in a longitudinal study of community preparedness and awareness to natural hazards in Washington State, USA in collaboration with GNS Science, Washington State Emergency Management and the United States Geological Survey. She is an Affiliate Researcher at both the Joint Centre for Disaster Research (Massey Wellington and GNS Science) and Resilient Organisations (Christchurch).
Caroline joined the Centre in March 2016 as a Research Fellow involved in Resilience to Nature’s Challenges (National Science Challenge). This 10-year research programme focusses on building a more resilient New Zealand by transforming how we prepare for and mitigate against rapid (earthquakes, floods) and slow onset (climate change-related) disasters. Caroline is Co-lead of the Rural programme, with Prof. Tom Wilson (University of Canterbury). More information about the Rural programme and Resilience to Nature’s Challenges can be found here: Resilience to Nature's Challenges
Caroline is on the Leadership team for QuakeCoRE, the New Zealand Centre for Earthquake Resilience, and is also co-lead for Flagship 5, Pathways to Societal Resilience.
As Science Lead for AF8 (Alpine Fault magnitude 8), Caroline works with a wide team of Alpine Fault scientists and emergency management practitioners to improve the way New Zealand will respond and recover from a future magnitude 8 earthquake on the Alpine Fault. The lessons learned from this work programme can also be applied to a range of other disruptive events, because building strong networks in communities, response agencies and Universities is key to societal resilience.
Caroline’s passion is for applied research that makes a different to our society, particularly in building social capital through networks and connections, and working with communities to build resilience.
Current and recent projects
- Resilience to Nature’s Challenges
- QuakeCoRE
- Project AF8
- Community awareness and preparedness for future natural hazard events, Washington State, USA.
- Resilience and sustainability in the tourism context: a conceptual discussion.
Current postgraduate students
Masters:
- Moriah Osborne (2020). Tourism operator preparedness and resilience in the Southern Alps. Fully funded QuakeCoRE scholarship.
PhD:
- Lucia Danzi (2020-). Tourism and emergency management. Resilience to Nature’s Challenges scholarship.
- Sonja Mueller (2019 - ). Community and local knowledge of water-driven hazards. University of Otago scholarship.
- Rajan Chandra Ghosh, (2018-). Climate-Induced Migration and Sustainability: A Spatial Analysis of Urban New Zealand. University of Otago Scholarship.
- Mathew Darling, (August 2018-). Assessing Transient Populations Exposure to Disaster Risk. (University of Canterbury)
- Shakti Shrestha (June 2018-). Wellington Cordon baseline project. QuakeCoRE (NZ Centre for Research Excellence) Scholarship
- David Wither, (March 2017-). Social norms of resilience in Kaikoura post-earthquake disaster. Resilience to Nature’s Challenges scholarship.
Significant publications
Underwood, G., Orchiston, C. and Shrestha, S. (in press). Post-earthquake cordons and their implications. Earthquake Spectra.
Vinnell, L., Orchiston, C., Becker, J. and Johnston, D. (2019). Pathways to earthquake resilience: learning from past events. Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies. 23 (2), 35-40.
Espiner, S., Orchiston, C., & Higham, J. (2017). Resilience and sustainability: a complementary relationship? Towards a practical conceptual model for the sustainability–resilience nexus in tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2017.1281929. (A* ranked journal)
Brown, N., Rovins, J., Feldmann-Jensen, S., Orchiston, C. & Johnston, D. (2017). Exploring disaster resilience within the tourism sector: a systematic review of literature. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2017.02.005
Orchiston, C., Prayag, G. & Brown, C. (2016). Organisational resilience in the tourism sector. Annals of Tourism Research. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.11.002 (A* ranked journal)
Robinson, T., Davies, T., Wilson, T., & Orchiston, C. (2016). Coseismic landsliding estimates for an Alpine Fault earthquake and the consequences for erosion of the South Alps, New Zealand. Geomorphology, vol. 263: 71-86.
Robinson, T., Davies, T., Wilson, T. & Orchiston, C. (2016). Developing coseismic landsliding loss assessments for critical infrastructure to aid emergency response planning. Risk Analysis.
Orchiston, C., & Higham, J. E. S. (2016). Knowledge management and tourism recovery (de) marketing: the Christchurch earthquakes 2010–2011. Current Issues in Tourism, 19(1), 64-84 (A ranked journal)
Robinson, T., Davies, T., Wilson, T., Orchiston C. & Barth, N. (2015). Evaluation of coseismic landslide hazard on the proposed Haast-Hollyford Highway, South Island New Zealand. Georisk: Assessment and management of risk for engineered systems and geohazards. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17499518.2015.1077974
Orchiston, C., Vargo, J & Seville, E. (2014). Regional and sub-sector impacts of the Canterbury earthquake sequence for tourism businesses. Australian Journal of Emergency Management. vol. 29 (4): 32-37.
Orchiston C., Vargo, J., & Seville, E. (2013). Insurance in the tourism sector after the Christchurch earthquakes. Australia New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance, vol. 36 (4): 20-23.
Orchiston, C. (2013). Tourism business preparedness, resilience and disaster planning in a region of high seismic risk: the case of the Southern Alps. Current Issues in Tourism, vol. 16 (5): 477-494. (A ranked journal)
Orchiston, C. (2012). Seismic risk scenario planning and sustainable tourism management: Christchurch and the Alpine Fault zone, South Island, New Zealand. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, vol. 20 (1): 59-79. (A* ranked journal)
Publications
Ghosh, R., & Orchiston, C. (2021). Climate-induced migration in the Pacific: The role of New Zealand. Impact Connector, 11. Retrieved from https://www.nzaia.org.nz/ghoshandorchiston.html
Ghosh, R. C., & Orchiston, C. (2021). Social impacts of climate-induced migration in receiving community: An exploratory study. Proceedings of the Institute of Australian Geographers (IAG) & New Zealand Geographical Society (NZGS) Combined Conference. Retrieved from https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/news-and-events/events/iagnzgs2021-conference.html
Ghosh, R., & Orchiston, C. (2021). The social impacts of climate-induced migration on receiving communities. Proceedings of the New Zealand Association for Impact Assessment (NZAIA) Conference. Retrieved from https://www.nzaia.org.nz/
Shrestha, S. R., Orchiston, C. H. R., Elwood, K. J., Johnston, D. M., & Becker, J. S. (2021). To cordon or not to cordon: The inherent complexities of post-earthquake cordoning learned from Christchurch and Wellington experiences. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 54(1), 40-48. doi: 10.5459/bnzsee.54.1.40-48
Brown, N. A., Feldmann-Jensen, S., Rovins, J. E., Orchiston, C., & Johnston, D. (2021). Exploring disaster resilience within the hotel sector: A case study of Wellington and Hawke's Bay New Zealand. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 55, 102080. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102080
Espiner, S., Higham, J., & Orchiston, C. (2019). Superseding sustainability: Conceptualising sustainability and resilience in response to the new challenges of tourism development. In S. F. McCool & K. Bosak (Eds.), A research agenda for sustainable tourism. (pp. 21-38). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. doi: 10.4337/9781788117104
Chapter in Book - Research
Orchiston, C., & Espiner, S. (2018). Fast and slow resilience in the New Zealand tourism industry. In A. A. Lew & J. M. Cheer (Eds.), Tourism resilience and adaptation to environmental change: Definitions and frameworks. (pp. 250-266). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Chapter in Book - Research
Prayag, G., & Orchiston, C. (2016). Earthquake impacts, mitigation, and organisational resilience of business sectors in Canterbury. In C. M. Hall, S. Malinen, R. Vasslamber & R. Wordsworth (Eds.), Business and post-disaster management: Business, organisational and consumer resilience and the Christchurch earthquakes. (pp. 97-117). Abingdon, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315640211
Chapter in Book - Research
Brown, N. A., Feldmann-Jensen, S., Rovins, J. E., Orchiston, C., & Johnston, D. (2021). Exploring disaster resilience within the hotel sector: A case study of Wellington and Hawke's Bay New Zealand. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 55, 102080. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102080
Journal - Research Article
Shrestha, S. R., Orchiston, C. H. R., Elwood, K. J., Johnston, D. M., & Becker, J. S. (2021). To cordon or not to cordon: The inherent complexities of post-earthquake cordoning learned from Christchurch and Wellington experiences. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 54(1), 40-48. doi: 10.5459/bnzsee.54.1.40-48
Journal - Research Article
Cohen, S., Hanna, P., Higham, J., Hopkins, D., & Orchiston, C. (2020). Gender discourses in academic mobility. Gender, Work & Organization, 27, 149-165. doi: 10.1111/gwao.12413
Journal - Research Article
Cubrinovski, M., Bradley, B. A., Elwood, K. J., Johnston, D., Orchiston, C., Sullivan, T., & Wotherspoon, L. M. (2020). Wellington’s earthquake resilience: Lessons from the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. Earthquake Spectra, 36(3), 1448-1484. doi: 10.1177/8755293020919426
Journal - Research Article
Doyle, E. E. H., Lambie, E., Orchiston, C., Becker, J. S., McLaren, L., Johnston, D., & Leonard, G. (2020). Citizen science as a catalyst for community resilience building: A two-phase tsunami case study. Australasian Journal of Disaster & Trauma Studies, 24(1), 23-49. Retrieved from http://trauma.massey.ac.nz/issues/2020-1/AJDTS_24_1_Doyle.pdf
Journal - Research Article
Prayag, G., Spector, S., Orchiston, C., & Chowdhury, M. (2020). Psychological resilience, organizational resilience and life satisfaction in tourism firms: Insights from the Canterbury earthquakes. Current Issues in Tourism, 23(10), 1216-1233. doi: 10.1080/13683500.2019.1607832
Journal - Research Article
Stephenson, J., Barth, J., Bond, S., Diprose, G., Orchiston, C., Simon, K., & Thomas, A. (2020). Engaging with communities for climate change adaptation: Introducing community development for adaptation. Policy Quarterly, 16(2), 35-40. doi: 10.26686/pq.v16i2.6480
Journal - Research Article
Underwood, G., Orchiston, C., & Shrestha, S. R. (2020). Post-earthquake cordons and their implications. Earthquake Spectra. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/8755293020936293
Journal - Research Article
Brown, N. A., Rovins, J. E., Feldmann-Jensen, S., Orchiston, C., & Johnston, D. (2019). Measuring disaster resilience within the hotel sector: An exploratory survey of Wellington and Hawke's Bay, New Zealand hotel staff and managers. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 33, 108-121. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.09.014
Journal - Research Article
Brown, N. A., Rovins, J. E., Orchiston, C., Feldmann-Jensen, S., & Johnston, D. (2019). Disaster resilience in Wellington’s hotel sector: Research update and summary. Australasian Journal of Disaster & Trauma Studies, 23(2), 77-81. Retrieved from http://trauma.massey.ac.nz/issues/2019-2/AJDTS_23_2_Brown3.pdf
Journal - Research Article
Chowdhury, M., Prayag, G., Orchiston, C., & Spector, S. (2019). Postdisaster social capital, adaptive resilience and business performance of tourism organizations in Christchurch, New Zealand. Journal of Travel Research, 58(7), 1209-1226. doi: 10.1177/0047287518794319
Journal - Research Article
Higham, J. E. S., Hopkins, D., & Orchiston, C. (2019). The work-sociology of academic aeromobility at remote institutions. Mobilities, 14(5), 612-631. doi: 10.1080/17450101.2019.1589727
Journal - Research Article
Hopkins, D., Higham, J., Orchiston, C., & Duncan, T. (2019). Practising academic mobilities: Bodies, networks and institutional rhythms. Geographical Journal, 185(4), 472-484. doi: 10.1111/geoj.12301
Journal - Research Article
Spector, S., Cradock-Henry, N. A., Beaven, S., & Orchiston, C. (2019). Characterising rural resilience in Aotearoa-New Zealand: A systematic review. Regional Environmental Change, 19(2), 543-557. doi: 10.1007/s10113-018-1418-3
Journal - Research Article
Brown, N. A., Orchiston, C., Rovins, J. E., Feldmann-Jensen, S., & Johnston, D. (2018). An integrative framework for investigating disaster resilience within the hotel sector. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management, 36, 67-75. doi: 10.1016/j.jhtm.2018.07.004
Journal - Research Article
Orchiston, C., Mitchell, J., Wilson, T., Langridge, R., Davies, T., Bradley, B., … McKay, A. (2018). Project AF8: Developing a coordinated, multi-agency response plan for a future great Alpine Fault earthquake. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 61(3), 389-402. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2018.1455716
Journal - Research Article
Prayag, G., Chowdhury, M., Spector, S., & Orchiston, C. (2018). Organizational resilience and financial performance [Research note]. Annals of Tourism Research, 73, 193-196. doi: 10.1016/j.annals.2018.06.006
Journal - Research Article
Robinson, T. R., Rosser, N. J., Davies, T. R. H., Wilson, T. M., & Orchiston, C. (2018). Near-real-time modeling of landslide impacts to inform rapid response: An example from the 2016 Kaikōura, New Zealand, earthquake. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 108(3B), 1665-1682. doi: 10.1785/0120170234
Journal - Research Article
Vallis, S., Gálvez, F., Swidan, M., Orchiston, C., & Ingham, J. (2018). Classical temples and industrial stores: Survey analysis of historic unreinforced masonry (URM) precincts to inform urban seismic risk mitigation. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 12(7-8), 1276-1296. doi: 10.1080/15583058.2018.1503372
Journal - Research Article
Brown, N. A., Rovins, J. E., Feldmann, S., Orchiston, C., & Johnston, D. (2017). Exploring disaster resilience within the hotel sector: A systematic review of literature. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 22, 362-370. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2017.02.005
Journal - Research Article
Espiner, S., Orchiston, C., & Higham, J. (2017). Resilience and sustainability: A complementary relationship? Towards a practical conceptual model for the sustainability–resilience nexus in tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(10), 1385-1400. doi: 10.1080/09669582.2017.1281929
Journal - Research Article
Stevenson, J. R., Becker, J., Cradock-Henry, N., Johal, S., Johnston, D., Orchiston, C., & Seville, E. (2017). Economic and social reconnaissance: Kaikōura earthquake 2016. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 50(2), 343-351.
Journal - Research Article
Orchiston, C., & Higham, J. E. S. (2016). Knowledge management and tourism recovery (de)marketing: The Christchurch earthquakes 2010-2011. Current Issues in Tourism, 19(1), 64-84. doi: 10.1080/13683500.2014.990424
Journal - Research Article
Orchiston, C., Prayag, G., & Brown, C. (2016). Organizational resilience in the tourism sector. Annals of Tourism Research, 56, 145-148. doi: 10.1016/j.annals.2015.11.002
Journal - Research Article
Robinson, T. R., Davies, T. R. H., Wilson, T. M., & Orchiston, C. (2016). Coseismic landsliding estimates for an Alpine Fault earthquake and the consequences for erosion of the Southern Alps, New Zealand. Geomorphology, 263, 71-86. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.03.033
Journal - Research Article
Robinson, T. R., Davies, T. R. H., Wilson, T. M., Orchiston, C., & Barth, N. (2016). Evaluation of coseismic landslide hazard on the proposed Haast-Hollyford Highway, South Island, New Zealand. Georisk, 10(2), 146-163. doi: 10.1080/17499518.2015.1077974
Journal - Research Article
Orchiston, C., Seville, E., & Vargo, J. (2014). Regional and sub-sector impacts of the Canterbury earthquake sequence for tourism businesses. Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 29(4), 32-37.
Journal - Research Article
Orchiston, C. (2013). Tourism business preparedness, resilience and disaster planning in a region of high seismic risk: The case of the Southern Alps, New Zealand. Current Issues in Tourism, 16(5), 477-494. doi: 10.1080/13683500.2012.741115
Journal - Research Article
Orchiston, C., Manuel, C., Coomer, M., Becker, J., & Johnston, D. (2013). The 2009 New Zealand West Coast ShakeOut: Improving earthquake preparedness in a region of high seismic risk. Australasian Journal of Disaster & Trauma Studies, 2013(2), 55-61. Retrieved from http://trauma.massey.ac.nz/index.html
Journal - Research Article
Orchiston, C. (2012). Seismic risk scenario planning and sustainable tourism management: Christchurch and the Alpine Fault zone, South Island, New Zealand. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 20(1), 59-79. doi: 10.1080/09669582.2011.617827
Journal - Research Article
Orchiston, C. (2009). Natural hazard monitoring in New Zealand: Implications for tourist safety. Pacific News, 31, 11-14.
Journal - Research Article
Orchiston, C. (2006). Profiling changes in the supply side of marine tourism in New Zealand: A spatiotemporal analysis. Tourism in Marine Environments, 2(2), 79-88.
Journal - Research Article
Ghosh, R., & Orchiston, C. (2021). Climate-induced migration in the Pacific: The role of New Zealand. Impact Connector, 11. Retrieved from https://www.nzaia.org.nz/ghoshandorchiston.html
Journal - Research Other
Vinnell, L. J., Orchiston, C., Becker, J., & Johnston, D. (2019). Pathways to earthquake resilience: Learning from past events. Australasian Journal of Disaster & Trauma Studies, 23(2), 35-40. Retrieved from http://trauma.massey.ac.nz/issues/2019-2/AJDTS_23_2_Editorial.pdf
Journal - Research Other
Upton, P., Cochran, U., Orchiston, C., Howarth, J., Pettinga, J., & Townend, J. (2018). Tercentenary of the 1717 AD Alpine Fault earthquake: Advances in science and understanding hazards. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 61(3), 247-250. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2018.1512389
Journal - Research Other
Orchiston, C., Vargo, J., & Seville, E. (2013). Insurance in the tourism sector after the Canterbury earthquakes [Feature]. Journal (Australian & New Zealand Institute of Insurance & Finance), 36(4), 20-23.
Journal - Research Other
Orchiston, C., Smith, N., Brown, C., Harvey, E., & Kim, J. H. (2017). Economic consequences of disruptive events on the tourism industry: The case of the Canterbury earthquake sequence. In C. Lee, S. Filep, J. N. Albrecht & W. J. L. Coetzee (Eds.), Proceedings of the 27th Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE) Annual Conference. (pp. 649-652). Dunedin, New Zealand: Department of Tourism, University of Otago. [Full Paper]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Orchiston, C., Smith, N., Brown, C., Harvey, E., & Kim, J. H. (2017). Fast and slow resilience of tourism organisations in the New Zealand tourism sector. In C. Lee, S. Filep, J. N. Albrecht & W. J. L. Coetzee (Eds.), Proceedings of the 27th Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE) Annual Conference. (pp. 653-656). Dunedin, New Zealand: Department of Tourism, University of Otago. [Full Paper]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Johnston, D. M., Orchiston, C., Weaver, C., Becker, J., McBride, S., Paton, D., … Wilson, T. M. (2012). "Low risk does not equal no risk": Understanding barriers to earthquake risk reduction in low seismic hazard areas. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Conference: Implementing Lessons Learnt. Retrieved from http://www.nzsee.org.nz/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Ghosh, R. C., & Orchiston, C. (2021). Social impacts of climate-induced migration in receiving community: An exploratory study. Proceedings of the Institute of Australian Geographers (IAG) & New Zealand Geographical Society (NZGS) Combined Conference. Retrieved from https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/news-and-events/events/iagnzgs2021-conference.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Ghosh, R., & Orchiston, C. (2021). The social impacts of climate-induced migration on receiving communities. Proceedings of the New Zealand Association for Impact Assessment (NZAIA) Conference. Retrieved from https://www.nzaia.org.nz/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Darling, M., Orchiston, C., & Wilson, T. (2020). Dynamic disaster risk management for tourists in areas of seismic risk, South Island, NZ. Proceedings of the 30th Annual Council for Australasian University Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE) Conference: 20:20 Vision: New Perspectives on the Diversity of Hospitality, Tourism and Events. (pp. 362-365). Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland University of Technology. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Darling, M., Wilson, T., Orchiston, C., Adams, B., & Bradley, B. (2020). Safety does not take a holiday: Towards real-time indicators of population exposure for disaster risk assessments. Proceedings of Te Hiranga Rū QuakeCoRE (Aotearoa New Zealand Centre for Earthquake Resilience) Annual Meeting. (pp. 8). Retrieved from http://www.quakecore.nz/annualmeeting
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Lake-Hammond, A., Orchiston, C., & Scally-Irvine, K. (2020). Evaluating the relevance and effectiveness of AF8 since the project began in 2016. Proceedings of Te Hiranga Rū QuakeCoRE (Aotearoa New Zealand Centre for Earthquake Resilience) Annual Meeting. (pp. 31-32). Retrieved from http://www.quakecore.nz/annualmeeting
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Orchiston, C. (2020). AF8: Five years of science and emergency management collaboration to improve resilience in the South Island. Proceedings of the Geoscience Society of New Zealand (GSNZ) Annual Conference. Retrieved from https://confer.eventsair.com/gsnz2020
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Shrestha, S., Orchiston, C., Elwood, E., Becker, J., & Johnston, D. (2020). Inpacts of site specific information on post-earthquake cordons: A comparative case study of Christchurch, New Zealand and L'Aquila, Italy. Proceedings of Te Hiranga Rū QuakeCoRE (Aotearoa New Zealand Centre for Earthquake Resilience) Annual Meeting. (pp. 40). Retrieved from http://www.quakecore.nz/annualmeeting
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Darling, M., Wilson, T., Bradley, B., Orchiston, C., & Adams, B. (2019). Understanding disaster risk exposure to visitors to the South Island of New Zealand. Proceedings of the 4th Te Hiranga Rū QuakeCoRE Annual Meeting. (pp. 11). Retrieved from http://www.quakecore.nz
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract