Properties near Waipara, in North Canterbury were evacuated overnight due to a large fire.
An evacuation centre was set up at the Waipara Hall.
Fifteen crews, alongside a bulldozer, fought the fire, moving through difficult terrain.
Evacuations included residents on Waikari Valley Road and Glenmark Drive.
The fire is putting more pressure on the region's already stretched resources, hard on the heels of Port Hills blaze.
Fire and Emergency incident controller Steve Kennedy spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
