Ngai Tahu says the residential red zone in Christchurch should be returned to nature to provide a large area that's bursting with bush, wetlands, and lowland forests.
Some 5000 homes have to be abandoned in the red zone and Craig Paulin, a senior environmental adviser at Ngai Tahu, says that if the area can't be reinstated for residential development, the iwi would like to see it returned to nature.
It envisages the corridor would run along the Avon River from the central city through to the coast at New Brighton, providing a great opportunity for recreation and tourism.
It would also double as an area for stormwater collection and flood management.
Mr Paulin says the project could also have international significance.
The iwi's vision for the residential red zone has been put to the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.
