Desperate calls for an answer on financial relief for businesses impacted by CRL construction
Updated 6 September 2021
On 3 September 2021, Government and Auckland Council announced that a Targeted Hardship Fund will be established.
While this long-term project will deliver benefits to the city centre and the rest of Auckland, the pain borne by businesses adjacent to the works must be acknowledged and managed.
Efforts to secure support for impacted businesses have been underway for some time. In late 2019, following significant lobbying, City Rail Link Ltd put in place a hardship fund for delays only for the C2 contract, though limited in scope and extent.
In March 2020, Heart of the City presented to the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Select Committee, which recommended that the Government “moves swiftly to consider and develop policies that will assist businesses where there is long-term business disruption” and “considers how the Albert Street businesses can be fairly supported or compensated which may require increasing the overall funding for the project.”
Recent press releases
- Press release, 3 September 2021: Relief in sight as CRL Hardship Fund announced
- Press release, 8 July 2021: Mayor Goff: How much longer will these businesses have to wait?
- Press release, 1 July 2021: Impact of intersection closure already biting
- Press release, 24 June 2021: 1 week on and still no answer for businesses impacted by City Rail Link works, intersection closure now only days away
- Press release, 17 June 2021: City Rail Link: Impacted businesses demand answers from decision makers
Media coverage in response to these calls for action
- RNZ, 3 September 2021: City Rail Link impact on businesses: hardship fund to provide payments
- NBR, 3 September 2021: Government, Auckland Council launch $12m CRL hardship fund
- NewstalkZB, 3 September 2021: Hardship fund released for struggling City Rail Link businesses
- Stuff, 3 September 2021: Business owners unhappy City Rail Link put in charge of $12 million hardship fund
- NZ Herald, 3 September 2021: Hardship fund released for struggling City Rail Link businesses
- RNZ Checkpoint, 3 September 2021: CRL hardship payments 'long overdue' Albert St businesses say
- Newshub Radio, 3 September 2021: Hardship fund for central Auckland businesses hit hard by CRL construction
- NZ Herald, 31 July 2021: Government told to act quickly before more businesses destroyed
- Stuff, 29 July 2021: Auckland Mayor Phil Goff leaves struggling Albert Street business owners angry at lack of compensation plan
- Stuff, 28 July 2021: Nightmare on Albert Street
- Stuff, 26 July 2021: 'They are killing us': Business owners along Auckland's City Rail Link construction site close doors permanently
- NZ Herald, 26 July 2021: Auckland restaurateur lashes out at transport minister over City Rail Link works destroying his business
- NZ Herald, 25 July 2021: Da Vinci’s Italian restaurant closes due to City Rail Link works
- NZ Herald, 1 July 2021: Viv Beck: Sacrificing livelihoods on the wheel of progress
- NZ Herald, 21 June: Disruption from Auckland's $4.4b City Rail Link slashes landlord's income by 85 per cent
- The AM Show, 17 June 2021: Viv Beck talks to Duncan Garner - starts from 17m00s
- Mike Hosking Show, 17 June 2021: CRL affected businesses: Empathy 'not cutting it'
- Newstalk ZB, 17 June 2021: Interview with Stuart Nash re CRL (starts 2:29m)
- Newshub, 17 June 2021: Businesses impacted by construction of Auckland's City Rail Link want $50 million compensation
- RNZ, 17 June 2021: RNZ News Bulletin - starts from 1m09s
- RNZ, 17 June 2021: RNZ Morning Report - Business owners to protest at council over CRL works
- Stuff, 17 June 2021: City Rail Link: ‘Angry’ shop owners protest outside Auckland Council
- One News, 17 June 2021: CBD businesses 'decimated' by City Rail Link plead for compensation
- RNZ, 17 June 2021: Central Auckland business owners protest CRL disruptions as 'debts are mounting'
- RNZ, Checkpoint, 17 June 2021: Auckland businesses near CRL work protest for compensation
- Businessdesk, 17 June 2021: 'Crisis point' for inner city businesses impacted by CRL
- Heather Du Plessis-Allan Drive, Newstalk ZB, 17 June 2021: Auckland business owners protest against CRL disruptions
- Newstalk ZB, 6 June 2021: Has the City Rail Link put Auckland businesses in a warzone
