An Auckland business leader is "astounded" at the lack of care for businesses devastated by the City Rail Link project

Property owner Grant McRae says his tenants are abandoning leases - and his income's shrunk by 85 per cent -- because of the construction.

Businesses held a demonstration last week, asking ministers and the Mayor for rent relief.

Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck says it's got to the point where they're trying to work in a construction site.

She says it's extraordinary the impacts the project is having -- and the lack of urgency there is to resolve the issues.