With temperatures expected to heat up this week, fire crews are racing against the clock to contain the Port Hills blaze and prevent any further loss.

Authorities working to contain the Port Hills fire are being helped by drizzle, which is forecast to turn to light rain this afternoon.

The Herald speaks with the Rural Fire Service crew, and their ongoing effort in controlling the fires.

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.

Port Hills homeowners have this afternoon been allowed to return to their smouldering homes that have burned to the ground.

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

Civil Defence's reports of houses destroyed by fire and evacuations over the past 24 hours have varied wildly.

A photographer who surveyed the damage of the Port Hills fire from the air has shared the incredible images that show the devastation.

As authorities continue to fight fires in Christchurch, a community mourns the loss of one of its own who just yesterday was among those battling the flames.

Strong wind drove John Wuts home early from Ocean Beach yesterday and on the way home heavy smoke made him fear for his life. The

Two serious house fires have broken out in the North Island.

Police have named the person who died in a shed fire in Christchurch on Thursday as 51-year-old Savita Devi Naidu.

Firefighters are battling a blaze that has broken out at Airborne Honey in Christchurch.

Over 200L of diesel has been spilt in a boat in Auckland. The Fire Service were called at 11.15am to the spill in Orams Marine Village

A helicopter was needed to help battle a scrub fire in the Bay of Islands this afternoon. A Fire Service spokeswoman said the blaze

A person has been treated for smoke inhalation following a garage fire in Pukekohe this afternoon.

Firefighters are attending a small scrub fire on the side of Auckland's Southern Motorway this afternoon.

Firefighters are responding to a scrub fire in South Auckland this evening.

An off-duty fireman came to the aid of a man who was injured after a tree fell on his car on the Southern Motorway during last night's storm.

About 60 people - including police, firefighters and defence personnel - are continuing to search for an elderly Auckland woman who has been missing for six days.

A firefighter appeared drunk and others could not demonstrate basic critical skills during an audit, an official report says.

The Hakarimata Track is not in danger from the fire, but remains closed this morning.

A bush fire which threatened homes near Blenheim this afternoon is being treated as suspicious.

Nearly 1000 cats have found themselves in predicaments needing rescue by fire crews in the last five years.

Firefighters are battling a blaze at a scrap metal yard in Silverdale, north of Auckland, this morning.

A person has been injured in a car crash in Manurewa, South Auckland, this morning.

Neighbours of a Hamilton house on fire woke the sleeping family in time to escape with their lives.

Exactly what caused a huge bush fire in Northland is still being investigated. Several fire crews and two helicopters were needed

Auckland and Bay of Plenty worst hit, but authorities say reduction efforts have worked.