Fires

While wildfires can happen at any time of year, Canterbury’s dry, hot and sometimes windy summer conditions are ideal for fires to start and spread. Most wildfires in New Zealand are started by people, either on purpose or by accident.

The 2017 Port Hills fire swept across 2000 hectares of the Port Hills, destroying 11 homes and resulting in the death of a helicopter pilot. There have also been recent fires in the Hurunui and Mackenzie Districts, and the ongoing rapid change to our climate will result in increased fire risk.

What you can do