The Christchurch City Council plans to unveil in the coming weeks its proposal for thousands of new affordable rental properties.
Ten thousand homes were lost during the Christchurch earthquakes, including 400 social housing properties belonging to the council.
Deputy mayor Vicki Buck told Nine to Noon the council would work with central government and the private sector to provide up to 10,000 rental properties in the city.
The move was driven by two factors, she said.
"First of all, that we get families into homes that are warm and dry and safe for children, particularly, because the costs otherwise for the community and for those families are enormous.
"Then that people, who are coming into the city - and that's happening every day - can actually find somewhere to rent when they're here."
The rental properties plan went than further than simple social housing, and the council would run a number of public consultaions before all the details are announced, Ms Buck said.
