Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says he has been meeting geotechnical engineers and officials on Tuesday to discuss whether residents in Christchurch's orange zone can stay in their homes.
Orange-zone properties are ones affected by liquefaction where a decision has yet to be made on the safety of the land.
There are more than 9000 homeowners in the zone, including those in suburbs such as Spencerville, Brooklands and Southshore.
Mr Brownlee says he understands residents expected a decision by now and is sorry he has not met that deadline.
The minister says some previous zoning decisions were self-evident because the land was so damaged that residents were forced to move. He says most orange-zone property owners are still in their homes and the rezoning issues are more complex.
Mr Brownlee says he expects the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority will update homeowners on what is happening with the next two weeks.
