A helicopter fills up from a swimming pool near Worsleys Road in Christchurch's Port Hills. Photo: RNZ / Charlotte Cook
Police say they are prepared to assist with more evacuations if needed as firefighters battle a blaze on the Port Hills in Christchurch.
The fire broke out around 2pm on Wednesday and is covering at least 630 hectares, forcing the evacuation of 110 properties.
Follow the latest updates at RNZ's live blog.
Here are some images RNZ staff and contributors have taken on Thursday.
Smoke billows from the Port Hills fire in Christchurch as crews continued fighting the blaze for a second day, on 15 February, 2024. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The burnt land and barren trees at Port Hills. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Fire crews at the Port Hills fire. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
A helicopter battles flame flare-ups. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The smoke and burnt land seen from above in these pictures on Thursday. Photo: NZ Herald / George Heard
Photo: NZ Herald / George Heard
Photo: NZ Herald / George Heard
Photo: NZ Herald / George Heard
Photo: NZ Herald / George Heard
Photo: NZ Herald / George Heard
A helicopter with monsoon bucket flies over the vast burnt land on Thursday. Photo: NZ Herald / George Heard
Photo: NZ Herald / George Heard
It was obvious to earlybirds looking to the Port Hills this morning that the blazes had not been put out overnight. Photo: RNZ / Charlotte Cook
An early morning view of the Port Hills fire from the road block on Worsleys Road on Thursday. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
The Port Hills fire as seen from north of Prebbleton on Wednesday night. Photo: Supplied / Owen Pearson
The fire as seen from Sparks Road in Hoon Hay in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
RNZ reporter Tim Brown took this fire from inside the cordon halfway up Worsleys Road. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
Early morning breaks over the city with the fire still burning and a strong smell of smoke in the air. Photo: RNZ / Charlotte Cook
Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
The fire spreads towards the Christchurch Adventure Park. Photo: RNZ / Charlotte Cook
A helicopter refills its bucket from a homeowner's pool. Photo: RNZ / Charlotte Cook
A view up to the Worsleys Road area. Photo: RNZ / Charlotte Cook
Daylight was still some time away but the dozen helicopters were apparent at the fire scene. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
Port Hills resident Ike Houghton collects some of his possessions on Thursday morning. He lost his home in the 2017 fire. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns
Firefighters have also had to deal with a fire in the Selwyn District that threatened buildings at one stage. The alarm was raised around 9am. Photo: Supplied
The fire near Rolleston. Photo: RNZ / Georgie Hanafin
Trains were stopped for a time, KiwiRail says. Photo: RNZ / Georgie Hanafin
The Port Hills fire from the Cashmere Hills, looking at the Christchurch Adventure Park. The fire spread into the park this morning. Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon
Evacuated homeowner John Joseph waits a meeting for affected residents to get underway in the suburb of Halswell. Photo: RNZ/Adam Burns
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Photo: RNZ / Charlotte Cook
A view of the flames and smoke from the suburb of Middleton. Photo: Supplied / Des Smith
Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns
The sun hits the smoke along Worsleys Road - the site where the fire started just after 2pm on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ/ Nate McKinnon
Photo: RNZ / Charlotte Cook