The Christchurch City Council is to relocate red-zone houses onto council land for a social-housing trial.
The council on Thursday asked staff to identify suitable land for a small-scale trial of up to 10 relocated red-zone houses.
A tender for their relocation is to go out next week, and up to $2 million will be allocated from the council's social housing fund.
Councillor Glenn Livingstone says the city has a growing waiting list of people desperately needing affordable housing.
"So why would we look a gift horse in the mouth? And these homes being demolished when they could actually be put to good use for our community?"
He says by putting the relocated houses on council land, the council is meeting the need for affordable rentals in the city.