The time is ripe for a review of directions in which earthquake engineering research is, or should be, heading. Half a century has elapsed since New Zealand suffered a serious earthquake in an urban area - during that time, immense changes have developed in both the form and complexity of structures and services. Researchers are tending to think more and more about less and less in their respective encapsulated environments. Are we getting to the stage where aspects of the problem are being well researched but their interdependence is being lost sight of? Or are we even missing important wider aspects? A need encompassing all topics
is the matter of keeping abreast of developments being done elsewhere. In this issue, we commence a series of general articles. These are intended primarily as a stimulus for comment.