Police have suggested the $5.5 billion City Rail Link is set to open in the third quarter of 2026.
An Auckland councillor is pushing for a long-term police presence at Auckland’s City Rail Link once it opens later this year – but there is some resistance from police, who say such an operation wouldn’t be sustainable.
The $5.5 billion infrastructure project is on track to open in the second half of the year, with sources telling NZME it is pencilled in for September.
Manukau Ward councillor and former police officer Alf Filipaina said he wanted to see a plan for police to have an ongoing presence in such a crucial part of Auckland infrastructure.
“For me, the difference is traffic officers compared to officers who have the statutory ability to enforce [action on] illegal activity,” he said.
“I know the training they get, I’ve got total faith in the guys that are doing the training, but it was more about being complementary and the police coming on board.”
Filipaina believed there was reluctance from the police executive, and possibly the Government, to commit sworn officers to the City Rail Link (CRL), but he was hopeful it could happen.
“With the opening of the CRL, it’s crucial. It’s the Underground. I just want to make sure our community’s safe.”
He said if transport police weren’t possible, he’d like to see a bolstered presence of Auckland Transport officers who work closely with police.
A police staff member also told Auckland Council’s regulatory and safety committee this month they were “anticipating [the CRL] opening in quarter three”.
Superintendent Scott Gemmell told Filipaina during the committee meeting that police were planning to deploy staff on the trains when it opens, to improve the feeling of safety for passengers.
“We want to get a good message out to our community that it is safe to travel on our trains, come into the CBD, use our public transport,” Gemmell said.
“That is not a resource that is sustainable, so what we will look to do is base it on operations into the future at different times.”
He said, if successful, it could warrant an additional number of transport officers under Auckland Transport (AT).
In a statement, police told Newstalk ZB they would continue to operate in busy public spaces through its beat patrols.
Auckland city district prevention manager Grant Tetzlaff said: “These areas include public transport hubs, and this focus will include high transit areas associated to the City Rail Link when it opens later this year.”
Auckland Transport said its transport officers would operate in and around the CRL once it opens but there is no current additional recruitment of staff.
“It is only a portion of the network that our officers already work across,” AT director public transport and active modes Stacey van der Putten said.
As of February 2026, AT employed 60 fulltime transport officers.
It was instead calling on security and customer service staff managed by Auckland One Rail (AOR), as well as Māori Wardens on night services, to ensure passengers feel safe on the CRL.
“AT is working with NZ Police on future safety plans to do with the City Rail Link and in keeping our network safe and accessible,” van der Putten said.
Van de Putten said it had the following plans in order for each station:
In addition to staff, AT said each station was fitted out with CCTV cameras and emergency help points which connect directly to the operations centre where police can be contacted.
Van der Putten said all the trains themselves are also fitted with emergency help buttons in each carriage.
“Once activated, this alerts both the train driver and train manager that an incident has occurred, the train will either stop if required or liaise with emergency services at the next platform,” she said.
Jordan Dunn is a multimedia reporter based in Auckland with a focus on crime, social issues, policing and local issues. He joined Newstalk ZB in 2024 from Radio New Zealand, where he started as an intern out of the New Zealand Broadcasting School.