Update on Port Hills Fire 6pm
Registration process for property access
Authorities have established a process for people to register to gain access to properties within the cordon and collect essential supplies
Visits will be prioritised according to urgency, based on the need to collect essential items such as:
• Livelihood – essential items for your business or study
• Health ¬¬– if you need to get medication or other essential items
• Personal welfare – essential items such as clothing and documents
• Animal welfare – pets and livestock
People can call the Christchurch City Council Customer Centre on 941 8999 or 0800 800 169 to register or head online to fill out a request, go toccc.govt.nz/evacuated-homeowners-access-registration/
People who register will be contacted and those who are able to go to their property will be accompanied by a police officer.
It is recommended adults only attend.
Cordons lifted
The cordons at the corner of Early Valley Road and Old Tai Tapu Road and at the corner of Osterholts Road and Old Tai Tapu Road have been lifted.
The lifting of these cordons and the earlier lifting of the cordon at the corner of Cashmere Road and Penruddock Rise (accessible only from the east), means there are now no cordons on Old Tai Tapu Road and that much of Westmorland has now reopened, allowing people with properties to return.
The lifting of remaining cordons is a high priority for emergency services and we still hope to lift further cordons this afternoon.
A map showing current cordons is available online at www.tfc.govt.nz.
Cordons can be lifted only after full risk assessments have been completed. This work includes expert assessment of the fire hazard, the danger posed by damaged structures, environmental hazards such as asbestos, and geotechnical hazards caused by the loss of vegetation.

Welfare centre
From 3pm today (Friday) the Civil Defence welfare centre at Te Hapua Halswell Centre shifted its focus from on-site accommodation to providing recovery assistance and information.
There will be staff available to deal with inquiries. People with accommodation needs can go to the centre to be assessed to see if they meet the criteria for assistance.
The centre will remain open until 7pm and will open again from 10-4 on Saturday and Sunday. A decision about whether it remains in place beyond that will be made based on the demand.

© Scoop Media