Securing Auckland’s CRL with a High-Security Master Key System

Author: City Locksmiths  |  Date: 10 November 2026

Client: Auckland Transport (via Frequency)
Stations: Te Waihorotiu, Karanga-a-Hape and Maungawhau
Scope: Design, manufacture and installation of a BiLock master key system

Before the City Rail Link’s three new stations, Te Waihorotiu in Auckland’s city centre, Karanga-a-Hape on Karangahape Road and Maungawhau in Mt Eden, opened to the public on 13 September 2026, every door needed to be properly secured. Auckland Transport employed City Locksmiths to design and install a purpose-built master key system to work alongside the new stations’ electronic access control.

Te Waihorotiu station in Auckland’s city centre, one of three CRL stations where City Locksmiths installed a custom master key system.

Replacing the construction locks

While the CRL was being built, the doors were fitted with construction barrels, the part of the lock the key goes into. These were temporary and all opened with the same key, so contractors could move around the site easily. 

“There are lots of keys spread across lots of different trades,” says Matt Hockly, Managing Director of City Locksmiths. “Anyone with one of those keys, or a copy of one, could get access to the whole City Rail Link.”

All 800 locks had to be replaced with a permanent system before opening.

Matt from City Locksmiths checks one of the 800 locks his team installed across the CRL, at Te Waihorotiu station in Auckland’s CBD.

Why BiLock?

BiLock is one of the most secure mechanical locking systems available, used by government, defence and critical infrastructure.

“You can’t just go to a key cutter and get a BiLock key cut,” says Matt. “You need specialist equipment to make the keys or the locks.”

City Locksmiths specified BiLock high-security master key systems for Auckland’s City Rail Link, building on a proven track record in some of the world’s most critical applications.

Designing, Keying and Installing the CRL’s Master Key System

In the final months of construction, City Locksmiths surveyed all three stations with the client, working through every door to decide who needed access and who didn’t. Every lock was then custom-made to that plan and installed across the three stations, ready for the first passengers.

“It’s one of the most significant pieces of infrastructure built in New Zealand in decades,” says Matt. “It’s exciting to be part of something that will have an impact on so many Aucklanders’ daily lives.”

What the CRL project team said

City Locksmiths’ work was managed by Frequency, a consultancy contracted by Auckland Transport to help deliver the new City Rail Link. Nico Austen was one of the project managers City Locksmiths worked with closely throughout the project. 

“City Locksmiths were engaged by Auckland Transport to replace 800 construction barrels with an operational master-key system across the three new City Rail Link stations. They undertook thorough site visits to each station and proposed a fit-for-purpose BiLock master key system meeting stakeholder and operational requirements. City Locksmiths offered a competitive price and successfully completed the replacement works within challenging programme and access constraints. Throughout the works, they were dependable and adaptable to minor changes on site, while providing excellent support and proactive reporting. They completed the works ahead of schedule and delivered a high standard of service throughout. City Locksmiths will be my first point of call for any future locksmithing, keying and access control work.” – Nico Austen, Project Manager, Frequency (on behalf of Auckland Transport)