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 our newsroom it is pencilled in for September.

Auckland 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 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 complimentary and the police coming on board.”

Filipaina believed there was reluctance from the police executive, and possibly Government, to commit sworn officers to the 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 which 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 3”.

Superintendent Scott Gemmell told Filipaina during the committee meeting they 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.”

“That is not a resource that is sustainable,” Gemmell said, “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.

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,” said Stacey van der Putten, AT Director Public Transport and Active Modes.

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,” said van der Putten.

Van de Putten said it had the following plans in order for each station: 

• Te Waihoritu Station - three Customer Service and five Security staff working all hours of operation.
• Karangahape Station - three Customer Service and six Security staff working all hours of operation.
• Maungawhau Station - three Customer Service and three Security staff working all hours of operation.
• Waitematā Station - three Customer Service and four Security staff currently employed.

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.