So, 16 years and countless stories later, it’s finally here.
During that time there have been stories on political negotiations, budget blowouts, cost overruns, a pandemic, skyrocketing construction costs, distraught business owners, job creation, job losses – and finally an opening date.
Former Auckland Mayor Len Brown deserves the tributes for pushing this project through, for convincing a National Government grappling with post-Christchurch earthquake bills that it was worth the risk.
Former Auckland Mayor Len Brown chats to current Mayor Wayne Brown (right) at the official opening of the City Rail Link. Photo / NZ Herald
This was never just a train set, as some like to call it.
The naysayers have always been there, lamenting that no one will actually catch the train, that it’s not worth the money, that it’s not needed.
It was a symbol of hope and optimism for what Auckland wanted to be. We could have a proper metro system. We could build big. We could think beyond electoral cycles and plan for economic growth and our future.
That’s not to say the pessimism around parts of the project wasn’t valid.
For the business owners who lost their livelihoods, who spent years battling concrete barriers, booming construction noise and empty stores, nothing can bring those years back.
But speaking to those who’ve been able to ride it out, they can feel the optimism in the air now. They can see the streets becoming busier and the excitement from those passing by and gazing up at the shiny new stations.
And they deserve to reap the rewards of every coffee they sell, every bunch of flowers and every pint that’s skulled before a commuter races to catch the train home.
Are there likely to be hiccups? Sure. There always are. But it shouldn’t detract from the excitement and opportunities.
And now we look to what we can do next. The CRL has proven we can build big, taught us lessons about being more decisive early on when it comes to the design and scope of projects, and how to plan better so we keep critical people employed (and in the country).
Not every Aucklander will use the train. Not every New Zealander will feel part of this journey. That’s fine. But for others, this will make their commute easier, allow them to see new parts of Tāmaki Makaurau, create much-needed jobs and make us feel like a proper global city.
There was a reason every person at the opening ceremony, no matter their political colours, was cheering on the ribbon cutting. They all saw it as a win.
The infrastructure debate in this country has also grown in 16 years. We have an Infrastructure Minister and Opposition spokesman in Chris Bishop and Kieran McAnulty respectively who agree on 90% of issues (in their own words). All parties are promising to end the stop-start nature of infrastructure politicking and not to rip up contracts once elected. The true test of that will be when a Government changes.
But in the meantime, 16 years since Len Brown made that promise, it’s time to climb on board the CRL.
Katie Bradford is a Senior Correspondent at the Herald. She has been a broadcast journalist for over 20 years and was based in the press gallery for 10 years. She specialises in politics, business and Auckland issues.