Post-disaster recovery is a complex economic, political,social and physical process. The physical damage to an organisation’s property can be considered a one-off
whereas the flow-on effects are not immediately apparent and linger for some time. Recovery is not just about rebuilding infrastructure, it should also be used to plan
for future economic growth.There are several factors that will act as determinants in
the recovery of organisations. It is important to recognise which of these has the more substantial effects as well as how the effects on one sector impact other sectors.The organisations in Canterbury had started on the path to recovery when they faced another devastating earthquake on 22 February 2011.Future work in this study will take into consideration the effects of this later event. Another outcome of the study will be the comparison of the determinants of recovery for different industry sectors, as well as the interdependencies and system dynamics as a result of the commerce between them. The factors important to recovery after disaster will inform organisations, policy makers and other interested parties on what to prioritise in the response and recovery stages after an event.