Regulatory Frameworks for Post- Disaster Reconstruction: Improving Resilience in the Process

Legislation that applies to routine construction provides for the safe development of infrastructure, capital improvements and land use, ensuring preservation and environmental protection, however there is often little provision in legislation to facilitate reconstruction projects. The research on which this paper is based has examined how reconstruction in New Zealand and other countries differ from routine construction, focussing on the interrelated reconstruction challenges of the allocation of responsibility for coordination, scarcity of resources and the application of legislation and regulations that were written for routine construction rather than post-disaster reconstruction. Case studies of reconstruction project management following recent smallscale disasters in New Zealand are presented to support the points raised. Extrapolation of the main issues to larger scale disasters identifies the need for improving resilience in the reconstruction process; as it is indicative that existing regulatory provisions may constrain reconstruction efforts; cause multi-agency responsibility and coordination issues; and result in a general loss of pragmatism by disaster practitioners. Well articulated and implemented regulations should provide effective means of reducing and containing vulnerabilities, and also facilitate postdisaster reconstruction for sustainable developments.