Kia ora 

We hope that you and your loved ones are safe and well.  The beginning of Alert Level 3 saw two hundred workers resume work across the Link Alliance's three City Rail Link sites on day one and this number has now doubled. We are proud to be delivering this project for Auckland, safely and efficiently.

We are conscious that we have restarted work at a time when many have not yet been able to. We take our commitment to being a good neighbour and supporting local businesses very seriously. Therefore, within the team, all Link Alliance employees have been encouraging each other to support local businesses and to buy local where possible. For the latest on which businesses are open in the city centre area including restaurants, eateries and retail stores visit Heart of the City.  Mother's Day is this Sunday 10th May and is another a great opportunity to buy local.

Kia kaha
The Aotea Station team

Dame Whina Cooper wins CRL vote

The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) due to arrive in Auckland in October to mine two tunnels from Mt Eden Station to Aotea Station via Karangahape Station will share the name of one of Aotearoa's most inspirational leaders, Dame Whina Cooper.

Dame Whina’s family welcomed their mother’s association with a project that will bring huge changes to the city Dame Whina called home for many years. 

Dame Whina Cooper spent most of her illustrious life leading the fight for social justice and land rights for Māori. The project is both proud and honoured that its TBM will carry the name of a woman of such mana.

Dame Whina Cooper, Dr Margaret Bradshaw and Ms Georgina Beyer were the three shortlisted finalists selected for the public vote. 

Children's artwork for Aotea Station sought!

City Rail Link is calling on children from ages 5-11 to paint and draw images that will then be fired onto ceramic tiles and used to decorate inside Aotea Station when it opens. The project is looking for thousands of tiles and is a wonderful way to be a part of what will be New Zealand's busiest rail station.

Children are asked to illustrate where they would like to go on a train once the new underground rail project is built. Tiles submitted already show everything from taking a journey to a neighborhood dairy, to under the sea, to the Eiffel Tower, to even the moon!  

There are a few simple rules if you’d like take part in what will become New Zealand’s biggest ever art project:

1. You can use whatever medium you like including paints, crayons, pencils or pastel
2. Artwork needs to be square shaped as it will be printed onto 10cm x 10cm tiles
3. Artwork needs to be original – this means no characters from your favourite tv shows, movies or books!

When you send artwork, please tell us your name, age and school you go to. Artwork can either be scanned or photographed and sent by email to art@cityraillink.govt.nz 

Aotea Station construction update

After a four-week lockdown period, work on site has restarted and is progressing well across all areas. We have almost completed the setup of our main site compound near Bledisloe House, which will serve as a base for approximately 250 workers. Utility diversions are also progressing well throughout the entire station area (from Wellesley Street north to Wyndham Street), and station wall piling and diaphragm wall construction will begin soon.

Geotechnical studies are also being undertaken before we begin excavation work and prepare for the arrival of the tunnel boring machine. The TBM will dig two tunnels in two separate drives, each drive taking approximately nine months.

Watch out for our next detailed works update coming soon. In the meantime, take a look at this stunning drone footage taken above the station footprint just before lockdown. 

Join our team!

The Link Alliance is actively recruiting roles for our project offices and construction sites. Some of the roles will be working directly within the Aotea Station team!

This project is a game-changer for Auckland and we would love to have you join us. As New Zealand's largest ever transport infrastructure project we are committed to boosting economic activity by providing jobs to Aucklanders particularly in the wake of COVID-19.

To view all current vacancies click here.