By RNZ
The owner of a Christchurch property where a large scrub fire started spent a nervous night watching the flames get closer to his home.
At least 50 firefighters worked through the night to douse the fire in Port Hills which forced the evacuation of around 40 houses on Port Hills Road, Avoca Valley Road and Gilders Grove.
Port Hills Road remains closed, however all residents who were evacuated are now able to return to their homes, police say.
Kester Vos said he noticed the flames around 11pm.
"Within a pretty short time afterwards the police were on the doorstep saying 'you've got two minutes, grab what you can and get out'. The first thing to do was get all the cars off the property and the dogs.
"Then it was pretty much, okay, we had to clear out of the area, so I've been standing here since 11 o'clock last night."
Vos said the fire was started by young people letting off fireworks.
Police do not believe there is any link to vegetation fires which occurred in the Port Hills on Wednesday. They said inquiries were ongoing.
At first light, two helicopters carried out an aerial survey of the fire.
Fire and Emergency said the flyover "looked positive" and the weather today should help firefighters.
The Community and Public Health division of the Canterbury District Health Board issued a public health warning on Saturday morning for smoke from the fire.
There was potential that sensitive groups – such as those with heart or lung conditions, pregnant women, young children and the elderly – might experience symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath or eye, nose and throat irritation, it said.
Medical officer of health Dr Cheryl Brunton recommended that people affected by the smoke should close windows and doors, and reduce outdoor exercise.
Civil Defence is co-ordinating accommodation at St Martin's School Hall for anyone who needs assistance.
Fire and Emergency estimated the fire had burnt through about 15 hectares.
"Our crews did a fantastic job stopping the fire from spreading up the hills and potentially impacting homes," Area Commander Dave Stackhouse said earlier this morning.
"Our priority this morning is to keep it within the area we have currently contained it to.
"The weather is on our side, with only light winds forecast, this should help us in our work throughout today," he said.
At the height of the fire, 15 appliances and crews were deployed.
One structure, a small cabin, was lost.
The fire started in the area of Alderson Ave, off the Port Hills Rd, close to the suburb of Hillsborough.
It was on the side of the hills facing the city, so Christchurch residents could see it and were phoning Fire and Emergency.
State Highway 76 was shut off at Curries Rd and motorists were being directed away from the area.
One of New Zealand's most devastating fires spread across the Port Hills in 2017, killing a helicopter pilot, burning 1600 hectares of land, gutting 11 homes and damaging more.
Witnesses were in court in August as Insurer IAG, lines company Orion and Christchurch Adventure Park debated who should pay for the damage.
The 2017 fires began in two separate locations several kilometres apart but merged, and prompted a review of the fire services in New Zealand, culminating in the formation of a national fire service - Fire and Emergency.
Efforts were made after those fires to plant 10 million trees in the area to reforest it.
- RNZ
The circumstances around the death are being treated as unexplained.