Fire crews have been keeping a watchful eye on the remnants of a wildfire on the Port Hills in Christchurch overnight.
The blaze took off through scrub and trees yesterday morning; three helicopters and four fire crews were needed to get it under control.
It's a reminder of the dry conditions we were warned would develop on the East Coast amid El Niño's prevailing north-westerly conditions.
NIWA's soil moisture deficit maps show dry conditions across the areas experiencing the associated warm foehn winds include the southern lakes, Canterbury, Marlborough, and Hawke's Bay.
Fire and Emergency wildfire manager Tim Mitchell spoke to Corin Dann.
