64031 (2024). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Finance

64031 (2024). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Finance: Did the Minister receive advice or analysis from Treasury regarding the long-term financial implications of cancelling Project iReX versus proceeding with a modified version of the project before declining further funding to KiwiRail in December 2023?

Hon Nicola Willis: Yes, I received advice from Treasury stating that it did not think Project iReX as scoped was the most cost effective or value for money approach to meet the Government’s objectives. Additionally, as stated in the answer to written question 64030, KiwiRail’s board determined that no further design savings could be found and that a descoped option for Project iReX was not operationally feasible. Advice the Government received from Treasury regarding Project iReX can be found here Official Information Regarding KiwiRail’s Project iReX - Phase 1 | The Treasury New Zealand