The Hurunui District Council says the uncontrolled fires that broke out on Wednesday afternoon are now "100 percent contained and 60 percent controlled".
The Council says SH 7 is now open although there will be controlled access and speed restrictions.
There have been 12 helicopters, 14 grounds crews, two bulldozers and one digger working to control the blazes.
"There has been one escorted convoy of trucks through from Springs Junction," the Council said on Facebook.
Evacuations from Hanmer
Vehicles wanting to leave Hanmer are being allowed to travel south on the closed State Highway 7, while only emergency services and school buses are being allowed into Hanmer Springs to evacuate students.
The Hurunui District Council say at least two houses have also been evacuated as a precaution.
Police now control the cordon around State Highway 7 and Leslie Hills Rd heading towards Hanmer Springs.
Welfare centre set up
A welfare centre has been set up in the hall at Amuri School for Hanmer Springs residents who are not able to get home, or stay with friends or family.
Reanna Smith was in one of the last vehicles to get through the Lewis Pass Highway before it was closed off.
"It was scary, we didn't realise that [the fire] was literally on the side of the road," she says.
"It was hot and really thick smoke, we freaked out a little bit because of how close we were."
Power outages affecting locals
Power cuts have been causing problems for residents in the Hanmer Springs area.
Mainpower said "wildfires causing damage to the network".
"[We] are assessing the situation and will restore power as quickly and safely as possible."
Resources from Port Hills called in to help
The fire service says at least 55 firefighters are on the ground fighting the blaze on the Lewis Pass Highway north of Hanmer Springs.
Two helicopters working on the Port Hills fire have been called in to help along with three others that were also involved in the the major firefighting effort.
A fire service spokesman says a total of eight helicopters are now fighting the uncontrolled blaze with crews focusing on containing two plantations.
"Wind and [the steep] terrain are making conditions difficult," he says.
Hanmer Horse Trekking owner Rebecca Nairn says the fire is closing in on houses.
"It's coming towards three or four houses at the moment, the fire seems to be moving at speed," she says.
She says she can see at least five helicopters in the air fighting the fires.
Roads closed
Authorities have closed State Highway 7 between Springs Junction and Culverden as a precaution.
Detours are in place between Murchison and Arthur's Pass on State Highway 73, motorists should expect a delay of at least two hours.
Smoke can be seen billowing across the sky across the popular tourist town.
Local man Andy Clayton says the state highway's closed at opposite ends of the fire and they're fighting it with monsoon buckets.
"The fire is on the far side of the riverbed and it looks like State Highway 7 is closed on either side of the fire," he says.
"[The fire] looks like that bit jumped and it's gone down following the line of the Waiau river."
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