Meet your new ferries, New Zealand: Winston Peters confirms Cook Strait ferries will be rail-enabled

Rail Minister Winston Peters has met with shipyard representatives, unions and port companies since his appointment in the role last December. (Image: NZME)

Oliver Lewis

Mon, 31 Mar 2025

The two new Cook Strait ferries will be rail-enabled, albeit smaller than the option progressed under the previous Government.Rail Minister Winston Peters, who picked up the delegation last December, made the long-awaited announcement on Monday.“Our solution will be markedly cheaper than the cancelled $3.1 billion programme and the $4b warning the previous Government received,” Peters said.“That’s because of a minimum viable and maximum reuse approach for the port infrastructure.“The future Interislander ferries wi...

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