Auckland Central businesses feel let down by the targeted hardship fund.

Only just over half of applications to the CRL Targeted Hardship Fund has been paid or accepted.

Auckland Council and The Crown set up the fund in September last year to help inner-city businesses affected by City Rail Link construction.

The fund has paid out more than $1 million as of last Friday.

Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Michael Barnett told Tim Dower the environment businesses operate in has been taken away from them.

“They deserve support and instead, they’ve had hope dangled in front of them and then taken away.”

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