| The First Shake - September 4 2011
 In September 2010 Christchurch, New Zealand experience an earthquake which has been described as perhaps the worst disaster to hit a major city in New Zealand in Living memory.
A good number of our society members live in Christchurch which is the second largest city in New Zealand. Christchurch has always been a stronghold of studio pottery with more clubs and societies than any other city in the country.
 Many of our individual members and affiliatiated clubs have, over the years, accumulated significant collections of works from nationally-known potters and ceramic artists. There is no doubt that many works in these collections will have been lost in the initial quake or in the hundreds of aftershocks that have hit the region.
Every studio will have felt the effects of the earthquake and some will have suffered considerable damage resulting in the loss of production through damaged building or equipment.
nzpotters.com has set up this page specifically for reporting on the earthquake aftermath for potters and hopes to provide services and offers of assistance for our members and other potters in the Canterbury region.
The NZSP Regional Council Member for the effected area is Anu Pratap. If you would like to discuss your individual case or offers of assistance with Anu then please email harsh@xtra.co.nz or
Ph: 033543514 baring in mind of coure that Anu and her family will also have suffered in the earthquake.
Here is a message from Wally Hirsh President of NZSP:
After an earthquake: a few words from the President.
All New Zealanders have been stunned by the severity of the earthquake which hit Christchurch and its surroundings on Saturday September 6th. The many aftershocks have added further to the trauma and the damage. We have watched and listened to the news reports and many people have reached out to help in a myriad of ways. We know that many people in and around Christchurch have had their nerves and their homes and their possessions shattered.
In the last few days we have been receiving reports from potters and collectors of ceramics that they have sustained huge losses. That is not surprising and I am sure the losses are much greater than we have already heard. On behalf of the National Executive and members of NZSP I express our sorrow at the losses you have sustained, sorrow at the damage that has been done to your homes and communities and in some cases to your pottery club rooms.
I am in no doubt that the Christchurch earthquake will have done much damage to many ceramics collections. Irreplaceable pieces will have been smashed and lost for ever. And that is sad.
Through our website and through the offices of NZSP Inc we can offer a little help. Our publication, Potters Marks is being made available on our Website. This will help people identify pots for the purposes of Insurance claims. We will list known valuers of ceramics who you can contact for advice. We will also publish details of museum waxes which are available and can be most useful in securing pieces of pottery.
Too late admittedly for many, but useful information for others and for the future.
If other useful information becomes available we will publish it in our special “Christchurch Earthquake” page. If you have useful information which you would like to share please drop a line to our webmaster Lawrence Ewing lewing@woosh.co.nz so that we may consider expanding this section of our website.
Our thoughts are with you.
Wally Hirsh O.B.E; JP
President
New Zealand Society of Potters Incorporated.
Report from the Quake Zone
Jim Pollard has written a report on his experiences and those of other well-known potters in the Christchurch area.
Have you lost pieces of your ceramics collection in the earthquake?
During the recent earthquake in Christchurch New Zealand many folk including some our NZSP members, suffered the loss of many fine ceramic works that they have collected over many years.
Two issues for these folk now need to be addressed:
- identifying the makers of broken works
- valuing those works for insurance purposes.
Identifying broken works
NZSP has decided to give free access to its collection of potters marks so that owners of works lost in the earthquake can easily identify makers. While there is now a book available which contains all of these marks you may now use this website to find the artist/craftsperson concerned.
If all else fails you might like to try our PotID facility 
Valuing your broken ceramics
While you may be able contact the potter who created your broken work for some indication of its current value, we intend to list here folks who may be able to help with your valuation. Some of these valuers will be professionals in which they may charge for their time. Others may offer their services freely. Howard Williams is the first on our list. If you know of others who could do this job please contact me lewing@woosh.co.nz
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Howard Williams was officially listed in the NZ Insurance directory for several years doing exactly this job for insurance claims on broken pottery. He still does this work, providing an official estimate letter for the insurance company for around $60 to $100. Enquiries to him should be sent with several photos from appropriate angles, plus of its mark (or a clear drawing of same)a pot’s full measurements, name of the maker and date if known. Original bought price and from where the pot was acquired can also be a help.
Howard' email is
howardwilliams@xtra.co.nz
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While the centre of the city suffered the most significant damage the outer-lying areas of the city have also been seriously effected by this shallow 6.3 magnitude event. Much of the city is without power and water and residents must now be close to the end of their ability to endure the thousands of after-shock events that they have experienced over the last six months.
