Last-minute reprieve for Coromandel ferry service

A ferry service from Auckland to Coromandel is to continue as authorities wanting to keep the business afloat look at throwing it a lifeline.

Ferry operator Discovery 360, which runs a service between Auckland and Coromandel via Waiheke, Ponui, Rotoroa and Pakatoa Islands, five times a week, had planned to stop sailings tomorrow.

Discovery 360 said it had lost money since it started the service three years ago and requests for funding assistance from Environment Waikato had been unsuccessful.

About 24,000 passengers used the service on one-way trips over the past 12 months but a spokeswoman said it would need an extra 50 passengers a week to remain viable. "And that's not likely to happen on a cold August day," she said.

But after talks yesterday with the Thames Coromandel District Council, NZ Transport Agency and Environment Waikato, the ferry service said it would continue on a month-by-month basis.

Thames Coromandel Mayor Philippa Barriball said the Transport Agency, which had been asked to provide up to $100,000, would review the situation over the next two weeks before making a decision.

A further $100,000 could come from local businesses over the next five years.

"The next step is to put together a business plan and all of the parties have committed to work on that on behalf of Discovery 360," said Ms Barriball.

Tourism Coromandel chief executive Jim Archibald was disappointed the ARC had not got on board with funding, particularly as all of the islands the ferry service stops at fall within its territory.

"If they can spend $1.9 million on David Beckham, surely they can find $100,000 for the ferry."

Discovery 360 said its prices and timetable would stay the same.