The Christchurch Mayor is talking up the Council's chances of taking over all of the red zoned land in the Port Hills.

The Crown covered the cost of the buyout for the properties zoned due to rockfall risks.

Now the City Council owes $39 million to cover its half of the cost-share agreement.

Mayor Lianne Dalziel said upon paying the bill, the Council might end up acquiring all of the land.

"There is an agreement that we receive half of the land that contiguous to the reserve that we already have up there, but it does look as if there may be some willingness simply to transfer all of the red zone land."