Experts fear homes on the devastated Port Hills fire may be at risk of a new threat.

The stereotype of the couch-burning student is becoming a thing of the past as University of Otago's tough stance on fire-lighting pays dividends.

Police and fire investigators will be working out what caused a blaze that damaged a Hawke's Bay home.

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.

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.

COMMENT: For me a cloudy rainy humid summer that promotes lush vegetation and full water tanks is an absolute blessing.

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.

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.

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

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

The entire hotel was evacuated while the source of the smoke was located.

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

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

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

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.

Frustrated homeowners still don't know whether their Port Hills homes are standing or have been ravaged by fire.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

A Christchurch couple who were told that their home was lost in the Port Hills blaze, just hours after finally insuring it, appear to have had a lucky escape.