71479 (2024). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport

71479 (2024). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport: Has the government considered any international partnerships or leasing arrangements to ensure that the Cook Strait has immediate access to emergency towing services while long-term solutions are explored?

Hon Simeon Brown: As part of Budget 2024, the Government is investing in undertaking a business case to explore options for emergency ocean response capability for Cook Strait. The Ministry of Transport is working with Maritime New Zealand to consider options for this.