Social Dimension of Risk: Vulnerability in Facing Natural Hazards of Asian Communities in Auckland

Abstract

This thesis examines the vulnerability in facing natural hazards of the Asian communities in Auckland. The international literature has examined vulnerability the broader social, economic and political context. It has found that people who are considered as ethnic minorities are vulnerable as they often lack of access to resources in their daily livelihoods, and they become exacerbated during natural disasters. Previous studies in vulnerability in Auckland have yet examined vulnerability specifically in the context of ethnicity. As a result, there is a significant gap in understanding of the vulnerability faced by Asian communities. This thesis aims to determine vulnerability in facing natural of the Chinese, Indian, Korean, Filipino, and Japanese communities. Results have shown vulnerability is embedded in daily livelihoods and manifested as lack of access to resources in their daily livelihoods. Three main barriers in accessing resources were found to be commonly experienced by many people from the communities, which are: limited English proficiency, limited extents of social connections, and financial instability. The barriers in daily livelihoods have further resulted in insufficient hazards knowledge, low risk perception, and low preparedness. The extent of engagement from the Asian communities in disaster risk reduction was found to be low despite community engagement has been emphasised by the Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group. This thesis therefore highlights the need in more vulnerability studies on the Asian communities. It also provides valuable insights for disaster risk reduction officials in the respect of engaging local Asian communities through more specific consultation and involvement programmes.