30355 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail

Written Question

Published date: 20 Jul 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	30355 (2026)
Question asked:	02 Jul 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister for Rail
Minister replying:	Rt Hon Winston Peters
Answer received:	13 Jul 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_30355_2026
Document guid:	ffccf861-e50c-43cb-8167-2cdcf5258a5f

30355 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail: Has physical construction of either of the two new Cook Strait ferries commenced at Guangzhou Shipyard International, and if so, on what date did steel-cutting or keel-laying begin for each vessel?

Rt Hon Winston Peters: No, and a simple search on Google would tell the member that construction is scheduled to start in 2027 after vessel design is completed.