Embedding Culture, Delivering Performance: City Rail Link’s Path to a Leading IS Rating
- Kieren Heikkinen
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
Client: Link Alliance - City Rail Link (CRL) Contract 3: Stations and Tunnels
Sector: Transport (Rail)
Service Area: Sustainable Infrastructure
Overview
City Rail Link (CRL) is New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project, reshaping rail travel through Auckland’s city centre with new and upgraded stations, new tunnels, and major network enhancements. Delivered by Link Alliance, a consortium of international and local companies, the project will significantly increase network capacity and support long-term mode shift across the region. Passenger services will begin in the second half of 2026.
Contract 3 (Stations and Tunnels) forms one of the most substantial packages within the overall program, bringing together complex technical requirements, cultural integration, and a broad set of sustainability aspirations.
Perspektiv worked alongside Link Alliance to support the IS As Built submission for Contract 3. Our role focused on technical modelling, documentation support, review, and independent assurance, contributing to Link Alliance’s achievement of a Leading IS Rating under ISC v1.2.
Challenge
The CRL program is ambitious in scale and complexity. For Contract 3, Link Alliance was coordinating a wide range of high-materiality credits across water, materials, heritage, climate, and stakeholder engagement, all within a dynamic delivery environment.
A defining feature of the project was the Mahi Rauora Aratohu, the City Rail Link Technical Manual. This world-first framework blends the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) rating system with Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural context (te ao Māori). Developed by CRLL and Link Alliance in collaboration with Mana Whenua (local iwi), it ensures cultural values meaningfully guide sustainable design and construction, earning top recognition from ISC for innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Perspektiv did not contribute to its development but worked within its requirements throughout the submission process.
Our Role
Perspektiv’s involvement evolved over the course of the project, supporting Link Alliance through detailed review, technical modelling, and coordination across the IS As Built submission.
Key activities included:
Supporting drafting and refinement of Credit Summary Forms
Delivering As-Built models for materials and water
Responding to verifier comments and helping consolidate evidence
Providing structured quality assurance reviews
Conducting an independent ISP audit
Throughout this process, we worked closely with Link Alliance team members and delivery partners. To maintain independence during the audit, all assurance activities were conducted separately from drafting and modelling support, with clear internal boundaries to preserve objectivity.
Strategy and Approach
Our approach was grounded in collaboration, responsiveness, and alignment with Link Alliance’s governance processes. Perspektiv integrated into existing Link Alliance systems and workflows, including program-wide project management tools developed and maintained by the Alliance. These shared platforms enabled transparent progress tracking, coordinated reviews, and smooth communication throughout the submission period.
Kieren Heikkinen and Gargi Mukkamala provided continuity and specialist IS Rating expertise, working side by side with Link Alliance contributors to ensure the submission reflected the full breadth of sustainability achievements delivered under Contract 3.
Results and Impact - A Leading IS Rating
The Contract 3 submission achieved a Leading IS Rating (81.34 points) under ISC v1.2, a result achieved through the combined efforts of Link Alliance, delivery partners, Mana Whenua, and the wider project team.
Highlights included:
Full points for Dis-1 Wai Ora (water quality), reflecting the project’s alignment with cultural values relating to Wai (water) as taonga
Full points for Her-1 and Her-2, recognising the integration of cultural narratives and heritage outcomes led by Link Alliance in partnership with Mana Whenua and design specialists
23% reduction in GHG emissions across Scopes 1–3 (38,185 tCO₂e saved)
Full points for Legacy (Leg-1), acknowledging employment and social value initiatives supporting Māori, Pasifika, and youth
These achievements reflect the strong leadership of Link Alliance and the collective commitment of all partners involved.
Lessons Learned
The submission reinforced the importance of early alignment, shared tools, and close collaboration between rating specialists and project teams, particularly across high-materiality credits. Working within a dynamic delivery environment, maintaining consistent personnel and open communication channels proved invaluable.
The process also highlighted the effectiveness of a shared, collaborative delivery model in which Link Alliance and Perspektiv combined their respective strengths to navigate technical, cultural, and programmatic requirements.
CRL’s Contract 3 IS Rating outcome represents a significant milestone for the project and a benchmark for culturally informed sustainability delivery in Aotearoa New Zealand. Perspektiv is proud to have worked alongside Link Alliance to support this achievement, contributing technical expertise and assurance within a highly collaborative project environment.
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