Hot weather has intensified across New Zealand as a heatwave moved through the country, bringing heightened fire danger to several regions.

Christchurch reached 30 degrees by 2PM on Saturday.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said updated forecasts now included Mid South Canterbury and Otago, with parts of both districts expected to face extreme fire risk conditions this weekend.

Deputy Chief Executive Prevention Nick Pyatt said Northland, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Canterbury, Mid South Canterbury and Otago would see elevated fire danger over the next 2 days, particularly on Sunday.

Pyatt said the heightened risk was being driven by high temperatures, strong westerly winds and very low humidity.

He said 97 percent of wildfires in New Zealand were started by people, meaning the public played a significant role in how the coming days unfolded.

Pyatt said the public was being strongly urged not to light fires or carry out any spark or heat generating activities near vegetation.

He said under extreme conditions one spark could start a fire that spreads rapidly, becomes extremely difficult to control and causes significant damage.

Pyatt also reminded anyone who had lit a fire in the past 2 months to physically check it was fully extinguished by raking through the ashes.

He said people should not leave it to chance and should apply plenty of water if there was any uncertainty, as reignition of old burns was a common and preventable cause of wildfires.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said fire risk was expected to remain very high in parts of Southern Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa over the coming weeks due to ongoing strong north westerly winds and little to no rain forecast.