Government drops $259m Cook Strait rescue vessel plan

Interislander and Bluebridge ferries. (Image: NZME)

Tue, 25 Nov 2025

The Government has decided against procuring emergency response capability for Cook Strait, citing a potential $259 million cost. Transport Minister Chris Bishop on Tuesday said Cabinet had considered two business cases for procuring two emergency response vessels under a retainer contract, to be paid by users via a levy.However, an indicative business case that priced the “two-strike solution” for rescuing stricken vessels at $80m over a decade in Nov 2024, became a $259m cost when a detailed business case was produced in Marc...

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