The Woodend Beach Holiday Park is being evacuated as a precaution due to a fire which started at Pegasus Beach, north of Christchurch.

Fire and Emergency crews were alerted to the fire at 7.53pm on Wednesday night.

Assistant Fire Commander Colin Russell said the Woodend Beach Holiday Park is currently in the direct path of the fire as it heads south from Pegasus Beach.

A Fire and Emergency Command Unit is being set up near the holiday park.

Waimakariri Civil Defence and police are assisting Fire and Emergency to evacuate the approximately 130 residents to the Woodend Community Centre.

Twelve trucks and 50 firefighters remain on the scene, with heavy machinery soon to arrive to establish firebreaks in the expected path of the fire.

The fire is still actively burning and high winds are causing it to travel quickly south towards Woodend Beach.

Police were blocking off access to Woodend Beach from the main State Highway.