Te Anau constable Kris Dale is determined to return to frontline policing despite being badly burned in an accident. 

Kris, who is recovering in Christchurch hospital burns unit, says he's been "humbled and at the same time enriched" by the support both he and his family has received since a gas bottle incident at his home on April 9.

That's included hundreds of messages and also $47,000 raised through a Givealittle page set up by a friend a week ago.

The father-of-four says he had messages from family, friends and even complete strangers.

"The response to the Givealittle page (which I was reluctant to do) has been phenomenal and often leaves me without words when trying to fathom how much aroha is coming our way," he says, in an update on the page. 

"I have read every single message, with some leaving me emotional and others making me laugh." 

Kris, a former firefighter with Ohope Volunteer Fire Brigade in the Bay of Plenty, also thanked the emergency services who saved him. 

"From the fire boys, doctors and ambos who initially attended, to the rescue helicopter and the staff at the Christchurch hospital who have done nothing but the best work in order for me to get better.

"I'm progressing really well so the baddies better watch out because I'll be hitting the streets in no time." 

Kris has severe burns to 18% of his body, with his face, neck, upper torso and hands the most affected. His hands suffered 'full thickness' or 3rd degree burns. 

A keen hunter, he'd been boiling down the head of a 12-point stag in his garage when the gas bottle began purging. When he went to turn it off, it purged again, setting fire to his skin and clothing.

When he arrived at hospital he was anesthetised and had his burns cleaned in a surgical environment. Since then, the bandages have been changed every three days. 

Wife Jamie Dale tells The Southland App: "The first bandage [change] day, three days after the surgery, it was awful and they had a meeting afterwards and thought that maybe they could have done it under anesthetic. 

"Since then, he's managed it better but it does knock him for the day. 

"It take hours to peel everything off and clean the puss and scabs, it's very painful. 

"He's had a broken arm before and didn't realise it, so his pain threshold is pretty high. To see him say he's in an excruciating amount of pain, it's obviously next level."

Kris has physio when the bandages are removed, and also exercises to do every day, especially his dominant right hand.  

"He' says 'I will be able to load a gun again, I will be frontline policing again, I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that hand is working again'. 

"He sits there while he's talking to you, and he's doing exercises, despite the pain. When he wakes up in the night he's doing exercises, he's bloody determined."

Jamie, the couple's four young children and Kris' mum are in Christchurch looking after him. 

"The first day I saw him, he was pretty much unrecognisable because of the swelling.

"It was pretty gnarly, but his facial expression is now starting to return, which is great, especially for the kids.

"His recovery is going really well. The doctors have had a look under the bandages and say it is 50/50 whether he'll need skin grafts. 

"If he gets away with not having them, that makes his recovery quicker. It will still be six months, but at least it doesn't drag out longer with the possibility of infection and things like that." 

The Givealittle page was set up by a friend to support the family financially while they help Kris on the road to recovery, enabling them to pay for accommodation, rental cars and other expenses.