Auckland CBD businesses gain respite from City Rail Link
Inner city business owners will be relieved to see City Rail Link work has ended in Albert St.
Five years of City Rail Link work has come to fruition at the intersection of Albert St and Wolfe St in Auckland's CBD.
Digging up the busy city street for rail tunnels took longer than expected and caused hardship for businesses in the area, said City Rail Link Ltd chief executive Dr Sean Sweeney.
"There have been robust discussions over the years, but we have worked hard with local businesses to find suitable solutions to offset impacts when work fell behind schedule including the introduction of rent assistances scheme for those who qualified,” said Sweeney.
“We hope we are leaving behind a rejuvenated and transformed street.”
Work began in late 2015 on the city rail link section at the lower end of Albert St.
A trench was excavated down the middle of Albert St between Customs St and Wyndham St to build the project’s twin underground tunnels 350-metres long.
At Commercial Bay they connected with the tunnel built from Britomart Station.
Construction also involved relocating an important stormwater line and strengthening a section of a large sewer main.
Tunnel construction finished in mid-2019 and Albert St was back filled up to road level.
Street beautifying followed – building wider pavements, installing new street furniture and lighting, planting native trees and creating bus bays to upgrade public transport.
Sweeney says the end to the work at the lower end of Albert Street is an important milestone.
“Historically it is where CRL’s construction began, but when you look ahead it’s a timely reminder that CRL is a transformational project for the whole of Auckland."
"Alongside that city-wide view we have a commitment to leave a positive legacy locally where we have had to put our spades into the ground.“
Meanwhile, work is continuing from the Wyndham St intersection to extend the city rail link further south along Albert St to join the new Aotea underground station in the city centre.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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73.1% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16.2% Hmm, maybe?
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10.7% Yes!
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
How many balls of string does it take to reach the moon?
(Peter from Carterton kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Peter!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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Minimum wage to increase from April next year, Govt commits to bigger rise than last year
The Government will increase the minimum wage by 2% from April next year.
Workplace Relations Minister Brooke Van Velden announced the hourly wage would move from the current $23.50 to $23.95 in line with advice from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
“Moderate” increases of the minimum wage formed part of NZ First’s coalition agreement with National.
Van Velden says the new rate, which would impact around 122,500 New Zealand workers, strikes a right balance between keeping up with the cost of living – the Reserve Bank expects inflation to fall to around 2% by mid-2026 – and no adding more pressure to the costs of running a business.
The starting out and training minimum wage would be move to $19.16 to remain at 80% of the adult minimum wage.
The minimum wage was last increased on April 1 this year. That 1.5% increased to $23.50, affecting between 80,000 and 145,000 workers, was not at the time in line with inflation which sat around 2.5% in March.
“I know those pressures have made it a tough time to do business, which is why we have taken this balanced approach. With responsible economic management, recovery and relief is coming,” Van Velden said.
“I am pleased to deliver this moderate increase to the minimum wage that reflects this Government’s commitment to growing the economy, boosting incomes and supporting Kiwis in jobs throughout New Zealand.”
Official documents from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) show the department provided the Minister with seven options for the minimum wage, ranging from maintaining the current rate or increasing by 3% up to $24.20 per hour.
A 2% increase was recommended, the Ministry said, as this was ”considered to best balance the two limbs of the objective - protecting the real income of low-paid workers and minimising job losses."
“CPI inflation forecasts suggest annual inflation will ease to be within the 2–2.5% range in the first half of 2026 and remain relatively stable at around 2% from June 2026 through to 2028.
“These forecasts indicate that a 2% increase would largely maintain the real income of minimum wage workers relative to the level of the minimum wage when it last increased on 1 April 2025.”
Officials said a 2% increase wouldn’t have significant employment restraint effects.
But given recent economic data, including a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contraction and elevated unemployment, MBIE said it favoured a “cautious approach”.
“A 2% increase to the adult minimum wage is expected to affect approximately 122,500 workers, including those currently earning at or below the minimum wage, or between the current rate and $23.95.”
The key groups that would be impacted include youth, part-time, female, and Māori workers, as well as sectors like tourism, horticulture, agriculture, cleaning, hospitality, and retail.
“While these workers would benefit from a wage increase, they may also be more exposed to employer responses to increased labour costs such as reduced hours or adjustments to non-wage benefits,” the ministry said
“The estimated fiscal cost to government from this increase is relatively modest, at $17.5 million annually, consistent with the small cost estimates across all rate options.”
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