Supporting our communities

CRL Ltd and its contractors continued their focus on proactive management of construction effects throughout 2022 to minimise impacts on nearby neighbours.

Following a successful pilot programme in 2021, the Small Business Support Programme (SBSP) returned in 2022. Business owners took advantage of independent business advice and a microgrant to innovate and adapt their business to the construction environment.

In response to feedback received during the pilot, the value of the micro-grant was increased from $2,000 to $3,000 per business. The six categories of support remained the same as 2021 - digital marketing, outdoor dining, business adaptation, activations/events, marketing and collateral and wellbeing.

Approximately 50 businesses took advantage of the SBSP in 2022, an increase of 25% on the pilot year. Installation of strategic rebranding to attract new customers and the development of haircare products for a barbershop are just a few of the successful SBSP applications.

Maungawhau Station’s stakeholder wellbeing programme relaunched in 2022 and the offering was expanded to Karanga-a-Hape Station residents. The programme provided a quiet space for residents and wellbeing activities such as yoga, mindfulness and meditation.

However, in the changing climate with many residents and neighbours returning to work, uptake was low and the programme was discontinued.

A range of other initiatives were offered to Maungawhau residents, with a focus on the most disruptive Christmas/New Year BOL programme, including local restaurant vouchers, free ice-cream, temporary respite and movies at the CRL Visitor Centre in Te Manawa over the holidays for the younger members of the family.

Within the Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct, the easing of Covid-19 restrictions facilitated a comprehensive programme of events at the Pocket Park on the corner of Karangahape Road and Pitt Street.

These events, delivered in partnership with the Karangahape Business Association, included the hugely popular First Thursday market and ‘Fab It

Up’ (a day of pampering for street whānau on World Homeless Day).

Heavy civil works continued throughout the year and therefore many solid hoardings remained in place. However, some hoarding artwork was updated across the sites and lighting added where needed to ensure safety, security and amenity around the site perimeters. Where possible, solid hoardings were repurposed or repositioned prior to the commissioning of new artwork. Neon lighting features were added in the Te Waihorotiu Station and Karanga-a-Hape Station precincts, with a huge ‘Support Local’ neon sign installed on Victoria Street to entice customers from Queen Street, welcomed by the local business association.

Te Waihorotiu Station started a ‘support local and win’ campaign whereby customers spent $5 or more at a participating business to go into a monthly draw to win $100 to spend at a local midtown business. A grand prize of an underground station tour was offered quarterly. The easing of Covid-19 restrictions enabled many impacted neighbours to visit City Rail Link sites, providing an insight into the construction happening beneath their businesses.

Large-scale activations in 2022 included Branch Out in the Maungawhau Station area, a spring celebration involving businesses along Normanby and Enfield streets, who had been affected by the closure of the Normanby Road Bridge necessary for construction. Similar to Aroha in Uptown, Branch Out is intended to become an annual spring event.