Helicopters with monsoon buckets are back in the air today as more than 100 residents of a Christchurch seaside community were evacuated from an approaching blaze.

Christchurch International Airport posted a 13 per cent lift in profit after a record number of passengers in the first half of the financial year.

The South Brighton Residents' Association wants to know what happened to earthquake donations for the eastern suburbs.

Four homes were evacuated, but residents have since returned to their homes.

A helicopter pilot has died while fighting wild fires in Christchurch's Port Hills, while helicopter crews will continue to fight two fires until nightfall tonight.

A fire has broken out at a popular beach in Christchurch this evening.

New Zealand is now experiencing the worst of the fire season, a top officer says, with a dangerous combination of high temperatures and low relative humidity creating tinder-dry conditions across eastern hot-spots.

He carried the All Blacks to two world titles, now Richie McCaw is flying people around two huge Port Hills fires.

Photos from inside the cordon captured by The Christchurch Star photographers.

Men armed with a firearm and a knife stabbed two Domino's workers in Christchurch.

High winds to bring more misery to fire crews fighting bush blazes today, but no rain where it is needed.

The Airways Radar is also under threat from one of the two major bush fires burning near Christchurch.

A body has been discovered in North Hagley Park in Christchurch this morning.

A Whangarei orchardist is hoping to emulate the success of his mentor, who took out the 2014 Young Fruit Grower of the Year in the Bay of Plenty. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Christchurch and Japanese academics are developing new drone technologies that would be able to locate people buried in wreckage following natural disasters.

In the past year this health board has agonised over its finances and where budgets should be boosted or cut - all behind closed doors.

Weary passengers forced to wait even longer after plane to Auckland is delayed yet again.

Unsociable hours can make chefing an unpopular profession, but some of New Zealand's best chefs are determined to help youngsters

Two 13-year-olds fleeing police in a stolen car had to be stopped using spikes in Christchurch.

Police investigations are ongoing following the discovery of a body in a shed fire in Hoon Hay yesterday morning.

Two brothers who shot 8-year old twin boys while testing a high-powered air rifle have been ordered to pay the children $500.

Woman denies Christmas Day murder.

A convicted killer has today admitted going on a prison rampage that caused $6000 worth of damage in December.

Businessman charged with paying underage girls for sex can now be named.

The report into the effectiveness of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority is unbalanced and misses the point, Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

A person is dead after a shed fire in Christchurch this morning.

Details of a police shooting in Christchurch on Saturday night will be kept hidden for at least a week after a court imposed a blanket

The young son of murder victim Alexsis Tovizi is among scores of traumatised children in desperate need of counselling after last November's earthquake.

COMMENT: Many people seem to freeze like a possum in the headlights at the idea of reading their insurance policy.

A 24-year-old Christchurch man who was shot by police this morning has been charged with pointing a firearm at police. Police shot