Irritated firefighters had to educate a Canterbury man about the dangers of lighting a backyard rubbish fire after a neighbour saw the smoke and flames and phoned 111.
Environment Canterbury voters have re-elected incumbents Ian Mackenzie and John Sunckell to the regional council amid division over the region's nitrate emergency.
Canterbury couple Annie Cuthbertson and Tim Munro are firing up their ride-on lawnmower for an 86km trek to raise money for the Cancer Society and Hospice.