The Department of Building and Housing has received 81 applications so far for temporary housing in parks in Christchurch.
Three hundred portable houses are to be built on Linwood Park, Rawhiti Domain at New Brighton and two other sites in the city's north-east, replacing campervans.
The department says there have been about 1600 inquiries for temporary housing.
Deputy chief executive Maria Robertson estimates 5000 to 10,000 people could need temporary accommodation in Christchurch.
The first of the portable houses will be built in May.
