The fight to extinguish a huge, out-of-control fire in Christchurch's Port Hills is entering its fourth day. Residents and reporters have been documenting the battle to get the blaze under control.
A map showing the full extent of what authorities are calling the Port Hills Complex fire. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer
Alistair Hodson and his partner had to leave their home and are at the Halswell Evacuation centre. Their pets have been booked into a kennel until they can return home. Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry
The Selwyn Emergency Operations Centre in Rolleston. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer
Helicopters stand out starkly against the smoky sky. More than a dozen choppers were in the air on Wednesday trying to douse the flames from above. Photo: Supplied / Matthew Rankin
The fire near Christchurch Adventure Park on Thursday morning. Photo: RNZ / Joelle Dally
The fire seen early Thursday morning. Photo: Supplied / Gary Jamieson
A fire engine speeds through Christchurch as smoke from the fire billows in the background on Thursday morning. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young
Hundreds of people were forced to flee their homes as the fire came closer. Pets and other animals - including these horses - came too. Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry
Elsewhere, livestock was unfazed by the nearby smoke. Photo: Supplied / Howard Aschoff
Anxious locals watched the fires from vantage points all over the city. Photo: Christchurch City Council
The flames spread to Victoria Park, above Cashmere, after the fire jumped Dyers Pass Road. Photo: Supplied: Christchurch City Council
As night fell on Wednesday, the flames were visible along the ridge line from kilometres away. Photo: Supplied: Christchurch City Council|image_alt_text=Flames above Victoria Park.
Many parts of the city came to a literal standstill as people paused to watch the smoke and flames rise. Photo: Supplied / Matthew Rankin
Smoke from the fire settled on the surface of Lyttelton Harbour. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer