Deputy PM Winston Peters reveals deadline for Cook Strait ferry decision

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has revealed the deadline for the Government’s decision on the future of Interislander’s Cook Strait ferries.

Answering questions on behalf of the Prime Minister in the House this afternoon, Peters said the Government will decide by December 11.

“It was always on the 11th of December or before so, we haven’t pushed any date out at all.”

It comes as KiwiRail is still negotiating its exit from a contract to build two new mega ferries almost one year after the Government pulled the plug on the project.

A scheme to replace the current ageing Interislander fleet with two larger rail-enabled ships was left dead in the water in December after overall costs, including new terminals and wharf upgrades, ballooned to almost $3 billion and the new Government refused to fund the blowout.

A decision on an alternative plan has taken longer than expected.

Last week the Maritime Union of New Zealand held a rally in Wellington, calling on the Government to invest in publicly owned and operated rail-capable ferries. Photo / Mark Mitchell

In early July, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the public would “find out about the ferries once ministers have made decisions”.

“I expect that will be within the quarter,” she said.

That quarter came and went.

Willis and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon then said there would be a decision by the end of this year.

“We’re evaluating the ministerial advisory group’s advice and we’ll have more to say about it towards the end of the year,” Luxon said.

Willis said ministers were testing proposals, asking questions and making sure decisions were based on good advice.

There is speculation the question of whether the ferries should be rail-enabled is behind the hold-up.

Regardless of when an announcement is made, KiwiRail is preparing to keep its existing fleet running until 2029. The mega-ferries were due to arrive in 2026.

KiwiRail has received advice from maritime experts suggesting there are no systemic issues that would prevent the life of the ships from being extended, subject to investment and enhanced maintenance.

Last week the Maritime Union of New Zealand held a rally in Wellington, calling on the Government to invest in publicly owned and operated rail-capable ferries.

At least 100 people joined. Their placards had a message for Willis: “Nicola, don’t abandon our ferries” and “sort your ship out”.

Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist.