Aaron Keown still has the $100 he promised to give to the person who could identify a worse intersection than the Harewood, Gardiners and Breens Rds junction.

The family of the helicopter pilot killed while fighting the Port Hills' fires have given him a final gift.

Despite the progress, there was still a high risk of flare-ups and forecast weather conditions may present challenges.

Christchurch's Bishop Victoria Mathews called an emergency media standup in Cathedral Square this afternoon to refute Gerry Brownlee's claims this week of a $25 million deal to restore the church.

The central Christchurch landmark formerly known as Market Square will be fenced off on February 27 to repair damage caused in the February 2011 earthquake.

Labour's Duncan Webb will go up against current Christchurch Central MP Nicky Wagner for the seat in September's general election.

The wife of the pilot and war hero killed when his helicopter crashed as he fought the Port Hills fires is "amazed" by the support for her family.

Fire cordons in Port Hills are being lifted, to give people a few hours' access to their homes.

Watch: A 1990 video produced for the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi has resurfaced, and stars a then 10-year-old Steve Askin.

Frustrated Port Hills locals are getting desperate to know when they will be allowed back onto their properties.

Christchurch must be wondering what it has done to deserve the ravages of nature.

Hundreds of firefighters continued working around the clock last night, hosing down hot spots and smothering embers from the devastating Port Hills blaze.

Chinese parents who lost their only child in Christchurch earthquake are pleading with govt to grant them lifelong visas so they can visit children's graves.

Quakes and quakes, some flooding, more quakes, and now fires? Come on, Mother Nature, what's next?

Ten of eleven houses destroyed in Port Hills fire could have been saved had career firefighters not been sent home at the start of blaze, union bosses say.

The Port Hills inferno was so powerful that it was spreading up to 160m every minute at it's peak, and water firefighters put on it evaporated.

Smoky smells in Port Hills' properties does not pose a serious threat to health, authorities say.

Distraught residents of fire-ravaged Worsleys Rd are allowed back to visit their destroyed homes. Tristram Clayton was there with them when they discovered the extent of the damage.

Contractors working in the area where the devastating fire first broke out on Monday pleaded for helicopters to be sent out, it can be revealed.

Plans are under way to get stranded residents back home, but winds may yet pose a danger.

Daily and weekly doses effective, but not monthly.

Kiwis dig deep to support family of helicopter pilot killed fighting Christchurch's Port Hills fire.

Helicopters are getting ready to go up and give emergency workers an overview of any fresh destruction.

Tropical downpours are drenching the north of the North Island as thunderstorms loom over Northland, Auckland and Waikato.

Son reeling after family home containing all of late father's belongings razed.

Civil Defence minister wants the law governing emergencies improved.

A quieter night for firefighters as the deadly Port Hills wildfire enters its fifth day.

The Port Hills fires in Christchurch merged into one huge blaze, threatening houses and lives. About 1000 people left their homes as the fire reached 1850ha, creating a big challenge for firefighters. A state of emergency has been declared in Christchurch and Selwyn.

Allan Gibson, 82, disappeared from the Mayfair Lifecare rest home about 6.30pm yesterday.

Watch: The wildfire races across a section of the Port HIlls, growing in intensity, in the timelapse footage.