39670 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail

Written Question

Published date: 21 Sep 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	39670 (2026)
Question asked:	07 Sep 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister for Rail
Minister replying:	Rt Hon Winston Peters
Answer received:	15 Sep 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_39670_2026
Document guid:	3e8a8d74-ca8a-4ad2-9057-fa16e6ec3de1

39670 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail: What advice, if any, has the Minister received on the cost of leasing an additional vessel to operate on Cook Strait prior to 2029, and what was the estimated cost?

Rt Hon Winston Peters: The KiwiRail chair confirmed the company will action our request to maintain a constant market assessment of additional tonnage. To date, no additional tonnage is required as the ferries were 99% reliable in 2025/26 and 100% so far in 2026/27, and therefore the estimated cost is zero.