37923 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail

37923 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail: Further to the reply to written question 37231 (2026), which Ferry Holdings Ltd procurement decisions required the approval of shareholding Ministers, and was that approval obtained in each case before the relevant contract was signed?

Rt Hon Winston Peters: The Project Development Agreement between Ministers and the Ferry Holdings Board requires our approval of major procurement decisions, which in turn provide Ferry Holdings with the ability to enter major contracts. Technically, all procurement decisions fit within our mandate so long as Ferry Holdings is complying with our Agreement and expectations. The ship procurement was of a standalone magnitude that specific approval was given by Ministers for Ferry Holdings to enter that contract.