The Earthquake Recovery Minister, Gerry Brownlee, says he needs time to understand a decision that could allow Port Hills residents with red-zoned homes to stay on their land.
Christchurch City councillors voted unanimously on Friday to consider funding rockfall protection work as an alternative to buying the land and forcing it to be abandoned.
Mr Brownlee says he has only seen some initial documents about the council's decision and needs more time to figure out exactly what is proposed. But he says one of the documents about rockfall protection design says such structures cannot be relied on to eliminate risk.
The minister says the council's move is not hindering the buy-out process for red-zoned land.
