Latest update from Civil Defence this morning
Update on Port Hills fires -6.25am.
Slightly cooler weather conditions and higher humidity with some light rain having fallen early this morning is welcome relief for emergency services fighting the Port Hills fire in Christchurch..
It has been a quiet night with a few minor flare ups contained by fire crews. Thermal imaging is being used to identify hot spots.
There is a lot of work to do to clean up the whole fire area and this will go on for several days.
Te Hapua Welfare Centre remains open with a small amount of people staying there. Nga Hau E Wha Marae and the Selwyn welfare centre have been closed.
Police cordons are still in place and these areas are still considered dangerous. The situation is being constantly reassessed and we will provide further information as soon as it is available.
Fifteen crew from the United States Coast Guard heavy icebreaker USCGC Polar Star are assisting police and the New Zealand Defence Force in the evacuated areas.
A Defence Force Hercules is expected to arrive in Christchurch from Australia today with fire retardant.
Road closure information:
· Cashmere Rd is closed between Hendersons Road and Kaiwara Street.
· Penruddock Rise is also closed at Cashmere Road
· Worsleys Road is closed at Cashmere Road
· Hoon Hay Valley Road is closed at Cashmere Road
· Kennedys Bush Road is closed at Cashmere Road
· Sutherland Road is closed at Cashmere Road
· Worsleys Track from Worlseys Road is closed
· Dyers Pass Road is closed between Hackthorne Road to Governors Bay Road. Use the Lyttelton Tunnel or Gebbies Pass as the alternate route.
· Summit Road is closed between Gebbies Pass and Rapaki Track
· Old Tai Tapu Road is closed between Osterholts Road and Early Valley Road.
· Early Valley Road is closed at Old Tai Tapu Road
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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