40476 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail

40476 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail: Has he received advice on whether the revised ferry replacement plan will improve or diminish rail freight capacity across Cook Strait compared with iReX, and if so, what did that advice state?

Rt Hon Winston Peters: We received advice that a freight-transfer operation is required to shift freight from rail onto the remaining Interislander ferries, until permanent rail ferries arrive in 2029. This operation has occurred time and time again when the Aratere has departed for scheduled maintenance. The process adds time, but railyard and freight teams are experienced and up to the job. As for capacity, KiwiRail has assured the Government that they can handle the task with the Kaitaki and Kaiārahi ferries.