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Aunty Helen or Crusher Collins? CRL looking to name tunnel boring machine

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 27 Feb 2020, 6:07PM
Alice was one of the other big tunnel boring machines. (Photo / NZ Herald)
Alice was one of the other big tunnel boring machines. (Photo / NZ Herald)

Aunty Helen or Crusher Collins? CRL looking to name tunnel boring machine

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 27 Feb 2020, 6:07PM

The country has a new opportunity to name a tunnel boring machine.

The team behind the Auckland City Rail Link are looking for a woman’s name for the big digger that is set to start work through the City Centre.

Ewart Barnsley from City Rail Link told Heather du Plessis-Allan that it has to be a woman’s name as St Barbara is the patron saint of all those who work underground.

“All big machines that work underground have a woman’s name in her honour. It’s not just a New Zealand thing, it’s a worldwide thing,” he says, citing the ‘Alice’ machine that worked on the Waterview Tunnel.

While any female name could be submitted, they are hoping for a ‘ground breaking’ New Zealander to form the inspiration for the name.

Aunty Helen, after Helen Clark, has been submitted, as has Crusher Collins, Lorde and Jacinda.

Barnsley says that they want the public to weigh in as a way of saying ‘thanks’ for the amount of public funding that has been spent on the machine.

"Nominations close next week. A committee will tear down the list, and then later next month, all New Zealanders will have a chance to vote on the final selection."

People can submit their name suggestions at https://digcrl.co.nz/

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