Residents will have to show ID before being allowed to cross cordons on fire-ravaged Port Hills roads.

It may be wondered whether a country of NZ's size and population is well served by such a fragmented civil defence organisation.

While firefighters are making progress with the Port Hills fires, the fire area remains at 2075ha this afternoon.

Pressure is mounting for the Government to reconsider the plea for lifelong visitor visas from Chinese parents who lost their only child in the Christchurch quake.

While stories of chopper pilot's courage in fighting the Taliban were shared, mum Leslie spoke about true heroes making a difference in people's lives.

A group who lost their only children in the Christchurch quake feel failed by two Govts.

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

Aaron Keown still has the $100 he promised to give to the person who could identify a worse intersection than the Harewood, Gardiners and Breens Rds junction.

The family of the helicopter pilot killed while fighting the Port Hills' fires have given him a final gift.

The central Christchurch landmark formerly known as Market Square will be fenced off on February 27 to repair damage caused in the February 2011 earthquake.

Labour's Duncan Webb will go up against current Christchurch Central MP Nicky Wagner for the seat in September's general election.

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.

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.

The Herald speaks with the Rural Fire Service crew, and their ongoing effort in controlling the fires.

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

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?

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.

Smoky smells in Port Hills' properties does not pose a serious threat to health, authorities say.

Distraught residents of fire-ravaged Worsleys Rd are allowed back to visit their destroyed homes. Tristram Clayton was there with them when they discovered the extent of the damage.

Port Hills homeowners have this afternoon been allowed to return to their smouldering homes that have burned to the ground.

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.

Daily and weekly doses effective, but not monthly.

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.