Final Cook Strait ferry costs unveiled

An artist's impression of one of the new ferries being loaded. (Image: Ferry Holdings)

Wed, 19 Nov 2025

The Government estimates the cost of upgrading the Cook Strait ferry terminals in Wellington and Picton will total $876 million, some $1 billion lower than estimates for the Treasury in May 2023 for the now scrapped iReX rail ferry project.Rail Minister Winston Peters announced the new costings in a package giving details on the ferry programme.The 25-page document contained almost no new information other than the projected costs, which includes $596m for two rail-enabled ferries to be built by Guangzhou Shipyard International.Peters will incl...

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