Matching the Government dollar-for-dollar on City Rail Link cost blow-outs will drive Auckland ratepayers further into debt, says the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance.

Ratepayers’ Alliance spokeswoman, Jo Holmes, says “A $1 billion blow-out should cause heads to roll. Instead, no one has been held accountable for this fiasco and ratepayers are being asked to pick up the tab for $500 million – equivalent to nearly $1000 per household.”

“If the cost of CRL keeps spiralling, will ratepayers be forced to keep paying half? Auckland Council should renegotiate and hold the senior leadership of CRL to account.”