Historically low rainfall figures in North Canterbury have Fire and Emergency urging caution.
Nearly a dozen wildfires broke out across the South Island on Saturday, which continue to be monitored for hotspots. Some are yet to be fully extinguished.
"About five o'clock last night we had most of them all under control. We've been monitoring them overnight - and continue to mop up," Assistant Fire Commander Dave Berry said on Sunday.
According to MetService, the current conditions in Culverden, north of Canterbury, are "fairly dramatic".
Based on rainfall data gathered between 1990 and 2020, 230.6mm would be expected in the five months to May.
In 2024, just 82.8mm has fallen - 148mm short on average.
Rural burn-offs were among the causes for Saturday's fires, which reignited in warm weather and strong norwesterlies.
Fortunately, no homes were affected, but an old wool barn and multiple sheds were lost.
With the current dry spell, Fire and Emergency have a message for rural communities.
"Keep an eye on the weather conditions - and if it's going to be windy, don't light the fire. It's as simple as that really," Berry added.
Members of the Rangiora Volunteer Fire Brigade were among those on the frontline on Saturday.
On Sunday, they were celebrating their station's 150th anniversary.
Chief Fire Officer Brook Retallick said the workload has increased rapidly over the years, and now involves health-related callouts and car crashes.
"Originally in 1874 I think the first year they did 30 fire calls - and it was literally fire calls.
Now - we're attending just over 400 incidents and that covers all emergency responses."
Life member Ray Hart was among hundreds who gathered at the public gala day.
He spent 36 years as a volunteer - and remembers his first callout as a 20 year old.
"It was an electrical shop that went up in smoke. Things didn't go too well. There were a couple of hoses around the wrong way and water everywhere. But hey, we got the job done."
The Rangiora Volunteer Fire Brigade is New Zealand's fifth busiest, work which Retallick isn't expecting to slow down.
"It's very special - we envisioned a lot of people turning up - but not quite as many that are here today."
