$13 million City Rail Link digger, 'Dame Whina Cooper', unveiled in front of her whānau

Friday, 4 December 2020

Dame Whina Cooper tunnel boring machine unveiled for City Rail Link Project

The City Rail Link project is about to enter its next stage after a new, 7m-wide tunnel boring machine was unveiled on Friday morning.

With an expected cost of $13.5 million, the machine, named after Māori land rights activist Dame Whina Cooper, was revealed to a select group of people, including Dame Whina’s whānau, Deputy Prime Minister Grant Roberston and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff.

Around 150 people gathered on Friday morning at the Mt Eden Station site, where the machine will begin the first of two 1.6-kilometre underground excavations.

The event began with a number of waiata sang by Dame Whina’s whānau and Auckland Iwi who sit on the CRL’s Mana Whenua Forum.

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Dame Whina’s daughter Hinerangi Puru Cooper was present at the unveiling and said she was “so honoured” to be there.

In July 2020, The CRL project had reached the halfway point, on time and on budget

* Auckland City Rail Link: Work starts on tunnel machine entry

Taiaha Hawke blessing the tunnel bornig machine.

Robertson said the project would bring communities together and strengthen them.

“These projects are about enhancing the wellbeing of our people. We have invested significant amounts of money into this but it’s so much more than that. It is a project to build a nation.”

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff and Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson at the unveiling.

Transport Minister Michael Wood thanked those involved and said the tunnel would provide real jobs and opportunities for thousands of Aucklanders.

Dame Whina’s daughter Hinerangi Puru Cooper also spoke to the crowd and was greeted by cheers.

Around 150 people were there for the unveiling of the machine.

“My brother and I are so honoured, and so humble, to be here today. Thank you to all of you for having us here. It’s a beautiful day,” Cooper said referring to the weather, “mum must have put it on.”

Dame Whina Cooper was the winning choice in a competition run by the CRL to name the machine. From a pool of 300 names, she was shortlisted along with Dr Bradshaw and Ms Beyer. Just under 50 per cent of the final vote went to Dame Whina.

Tradition dictates that a tunnel boring machine must have a woman’s name as a sign of good luck and safety for the project ahead as an acknowledgement to Saint Barbara, the patron saint of those who work underground.

Cooper, born in 1895 at Panguru, Northland, was the first president of the Māori Women's Welfare League and played a significant role in improving Māori living conditions across New Zealand.

She moved to Auckland in 1949 and was identified as one of the “100 Makers of Auckland” in a book featuring influential people who helped develop the city.

In 1975, aged 80, she led a land rights march from the Far North to Parliament. She was made a Dame in 1981 and was awarded the country’s highest honour, the Order of New Zealand, in 1991.

Goff described Cooper as a “very special lady”.

”Helen sprung to mind, Jacinda sprung to mind, but the Dame name was the most fitting name,” Goff said.

Five thousand members of the public managed to get tickets to see the new machine this weekend, with tickets selling out in just over 24 hours.

On Sunday they will be able to tour the machine and see the portal where it will start its underground journey.