56362 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail

Written Question

Published date: 17 Dec 2025

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	56362 (2025)
Question asked:	03 Dec 2025
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister for Rail
Minister replying:	Rt Hon Winston Peters
Answer received:	11 Dec 2025
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_56362_2025
Document guid:	e4b966e0-8ad4-497f-ace5-52eae8167f9e

56362 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail: What key milestones must be met to ensure delivery of the first new ferry in early 2029 and the second before Christmas 2029, and what are the major schedule risks identified so far?

Rt Hon Winston Peters: This information is outlined in the Ferry Holdings Statement of Intent, specifically on pages 9 and 10: https://www.ferryholdings.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FHL-SOI-5-March-2025-%E2%80%93-30-June-2025-FINAL-.pdf Major schedule risks have already been alleviated for the ships programme through the on-time contracting of vessels in November 2025 for staged delivery in the first and last quarters of 2029, as well as the infrastructure agreements which enabled early works to commence in Wellington and Picton. The Ferry Holdings board regularly monitors schedule risks and will report to Ministers across the delivery period.