A rubbish bin on fire in a toilet located in the international departure area was extinguished using a hose reel by airport fire service.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Brent Dunn said it appeared someone had dropped a cigarette butt into the rubbish bin causing the fire.
Fire services were alerted to the fire at about 7.48am through the airport's automatic alarm system.
Redwood, Harewood and Wigram fire services also attended the incident.
Christchurch Airport spokeswoman Yvonne Densem said no flights were leaving and no members of the public were in the area at the time of the fire.
She said only staff were evacuated.
Mr Dunn said the fire was extinguished and the toilet cleared of smoke.
