The Government has found a use for 37 temporary homes which have been sitting idle since they were bought to house earthquake-displaced Cantabrians.
The portacabins cost about $1.5 million, and were originally intended to be placed next to people's quake-damaged homes while they were being repaired.
Instead, it was decided to build three temporary accommodation villages.
The Government was criticised for not using the units to ease the city's housing shortage, which has forced some families to live in garages.
Housing Minister Nick Smith says they have now been sold to Workotel, which is providing temporary accommodation for 200 rebuild workers and up to 100 people displaced by the earthquakes.
"At the end of this rebuild process I am quite satisfied that taxpapers will say yip, a bit of a bump initially in terms of them not being required in the emergency phase, but good use of public money in helping the rebuild effort with worker accommodation."
