43610 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail

43610 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail: Has the Government sought independent assessment of whether the delivery target of 2029 for the two new Cook Strait ferries is realistic, and if so, what conclusions were reached?

Rt Hon Winston Peters: Yes, the Government sought advice from shipbrokers and Ferry Holdings has been assisted by shipbrokers across this procurement exercise. The conclusion was patently evident in our statement of 3 September 2025: "The shipbuilder and Ferry Holdings have agreed a fixed price, completion in 2029, and full delivery of our ship specification for 200-metre-long ferries with road and rail decks, room for 1,500 passengers each, and an extraordinary 2.4 kilometres on each ferry of lanes for trucks, cars, and 40 rail wagons.