Revealed: Govt set aside $900m to buy new Cook Strait ferries | Stuff.co.nz

[@AP-kn1mp]

Total lack of future proofing, should stayed with the original plan and had new Ferries and Terminals with roll on, roll rail here next year.

[@KiwiCatherineJemma]

So these 2 new Ferries ARE NOT "rail enabled". Therefore they are useless for one of their main, most important functions !

[@bert454]

New Zealand is sinking into the abyss with this coalition. Can the last person to leave New Zealand please turn off the lights!

[@alannorman6166]

Don’t think this government has a clue what they are doing

[@ericchapman399]

@alannorman6166 Nor can anyone else can understand their slash and burn mentality of anything the previous had built.

[@Kiwi-Ahh-Nah]

Add on the cost of terminating the previous ferry contract and guess what...taxpayers once again are paying more for less.

[@TheFalconerNZ]

$300 to $500 million to cancel the old deal but as far as i know National has not confirmed that figure; On Tuesday (6 August 2024), the Maritime Union national secretary Carl Findlay said the cost of cancelling the two large ferries that had been contracted for the iReX project would likely be more than $300 million, and could be up to about $500m. He said that figure would be on top of the $500m already spent on sunk costs. So National needs to add between $800 million to $1 million to their $900 million plan. But wait ALL government project go over budget to expect a further $500 million to $1 billion again to be added. Making the total price for Nationals ferry plan 900+400+900+500= $2.7 billion

[@Oznz-m5c]

No sh_t Sherlock...

[@6DunJuan9]

All this just to ferry milk and meat to go overseas, and a couple of tourists that you and I will never see income from.

[@Moamanly]

@@TheFalconerNZ Think you might have your millions and billions mixed up.

[@ytzpilot]

It’s the same concept as spending money on bike lanes built on roads on top of leaking pipes, even the Roman’s could do water and roads better than New Zealand 😂

[@rkctransportationvids]

Since they cancelled the last deal it's now going to be harder to find a ship builder that will build them for a decent cost. A lot of ship builders are going to think twice and the terms and conditions of the contract will be pretty strict I reckon.

[@markkeown9532]

IF they really saved money it would have been high-fives all-around and ran the savings up the flag pole. What is the cost to get the original contract going, what is the cost to cancel the original contract, what is the cost (for engineers) to determine the 'new' plan, what is the cost of lost revenue due to delay of the project ( commerce and tourism ) and now exactly what is the cost of the 'smaller' ships??? What is the cost to ship a truck load of sheep (or what ever) with the original ships and what is the cost to ship a truck load of sheep with the smaller ships. Is the capacity of the ships fit for purpose in 2045?? The Original larger ships could make the crossing in rough weather, can the smaller ships safely make the crossing during rough weather like the original ships could? In some instances I keep hearing we are 'transparent in policy and expenditure' - so Trumpian. I could go on about docking ability and navigation gear cost but you get the idea.

[@dougm7796]

I hope they name the new ships the Luxton and Willis, just so we all don't forget.

[@PeterMay-v5m]

Hopefully they will last longer

[@bert454]

I don't think know one will forget how wasteful this deal is. The future is rail enabled but this government want short term fixes to keep their electorate happy yet no long term plan lol

[@kyriestrange]

Nikki Noboats has just made a few extra columns in her ledger and hidden the cost of port refits. So yeah still paying more for less

[@arrivingone]

What are joke this government is, meanwhile consumers will pick up the mess this government has left us with.

[@TheFalconerNZ]

Either way Kiwi's will be paying for the wharf upgrades, the difference is that taxpayer money will be a one off cost while user pays will be an perminate ongoing cost that will be past down to consumers further adding to inflation in the long run.

[@wayneworth5113]

We know there is a least one ship captain looking for a job

[@lindsayepae]

NZ govt should take that $900mln, buy Bitcoin ,wait 3 - 6 months then you can buy 6 brand new electric cook strait ferries

[@EckardBerry]

Sounds like the Kiwi politician dance to me, Luxon really knows how to dance the Kiwi politician dance, round and round in circles never being straight forward and brutally honest.

[@vonchilliman]

And how will smaller ferries cope in a few years time when the need for capacity increases? Coalition of incompetence at work again.

[@almac4067]

I’m paying for this muppet-grade level of government? They literally don’t know what they’re doing!

[@tracymichaelsen493]

Smaller and the ports are needing to be fixed. So still pissing off Korea

[@kyriestrange]

Would love to know also how much has been squandered on the consulting and research for this inferior outcome

[@Oznz-m5c]

LOTS.... but hey what do you expect from Nikky no boats and mumbles Luxon...?

[@grantbutcher2227]

Buisness government . No way . User pays on port infrustructure. It's an integral part of state highway one and a tourist spot. But the cost re freight multi handling andvupgardes means it will cost more than 3 billion .

[@Phil-oj5nr]

The overall cost will still be bigger than the IRex project. The Government will so no, but add up ALL the costs, no matter who pays for each part of the project, and it will come in at between 3 and 3.5 billion, assuming no cost overruns. The ferries have to be rail enabled (that is with ability to run railway rolling stock onto the ships). If not then the cost of moving goods by road bridging ( that is containers off rail wagons onto trailers, on to the ferry and then the reverse at the other side) will be picked up by all consumers. The Aratere (presently the only ferry to take rail wagons) can unload and reload railway wagons in 35 minutes at either end, whilst simultaneously unloading and loading road vehicles on to the upper deck. Very similar to what the Aramoana could do from 1962.

[@drednorzt]

I don't think they care about freight costs being passed onto us. Its clear as day they have vested interests in road freight over rail.

[@RollestonRails]

​@@drednorztyes the roads need improvements but we need more rail and less trucks...

[@edwardmakara6317]

Bloody hell luxon. How embarrassing for our country. Show some gonads and support those 2 young women who were assaulted by Vietnamese security and police. Do the right thing and have them brought back to face justice. How embarrassing for those young women. Wake up national and address this problem instead of running and dividing our country into the ground....

[@HUAIREN666]

If this Government gets re-elected we'll be very surprised 😂😂😂

[@garyomalley]

The government of clowns now has us on track to the biggest train wreck ever, their joy when they make these announcements shows stupid they are.

[@skyline472]

All because it was Labour's idea in motion......wtf

[@Gaza50575]

spend the money no rail come on don't want to be stuck in the dark ages

[@justinmcinnes2898]

Clowns lost first deposit an now tryn to buy smaller ship. Wich wont sail in same rough seas...an clowns skipping out on terminals. Wat a joke . Smaller boat less fraight complete dumb waste of more tax payers money.

[@judithmatthews8460]

The intention all along has been to break up Kiwi rail. It’s money for private donors .Seymour has agreed to this because he’s getting what his donors want their hands on

[@Oznz-m5c]

Even Shame "slip me some koha" Jones is lost for words on this one......

[@howardhudson5054]

Like watching a slow-motion train wreck.

[@markkeown9532]

err boat sink

[@indodom1141]

Ia it new ships or better drivers needed, the last two shipping incidences was the driving snd if we are to buy new ships why do i get the feelig we will pay too much for a couple lemon?

[@tracymichaelsen493]

They will dump a pile of rubbish just before xmas and then go on holiday. Black rock summit in June Auckland.

[@BrettCooper4702]

National Plan to close South Island Rail in 2026 (as mentioned in the 2024 budget documents with a $330 million/year cut is costs), so, rail enabled would be a waste of money...

[@RollestonRails]

Bs rail needs to stay and needs to be funded more along with the removal of trucks off the roads 😑

[@ericchapman399]

This coalition government is like being on a ship with three captains. One orders hard port rudder. One calls hard starboard rudder. The third calls not forwards full astern. Now let us sack as many health workers as possible to imporve the health service. Meanwhile not pride enough funding to hospitals them they can only employ half of the newly qualified nurses so the other half are forced into alternative employment or take their skills off shore.

[@lynetteledingham2173]

Need to support with a far better rail system that is cheaper and more useable.

[@richardwright5597]

sounds like the same mob who organised the tassie ferries

[@malcolmWaite-g4t]

yeah, a complete mess, one ship 850 million Euros, didn't allow for the berthing now won't be actually in service till 2026

[@gcgfchjkjlklkcxfxdzs]

Why not build a bridge?

[@rp7784]

Too expensive to build, maintain and operate.

[@wiremuporter5044]

Just like the groceries Pay more Get less

[@optimumperformance]

So does this mean the ferry is now free for everybody?

[@StarWarsForge2010]

This comments section is funny 😁

[@dassacood1820]

Imagine if Stuff kept hating National, Act and First.

[@thetamihana2561]

Nikki 2 boats says they will be called Korora 1 and Korora 2.

[@optimumperformance]

The boats have lower maintenance cost so that needs to be taken into account.

[@markkeown9532]

The smaller boats will have higher maintenance and operational cost per ton of freight shipped. The cost for us to ship anything on a smaller ship will be more $.

[@optimumperformance]

@ so you know the models of the boast vs the larger ones?

[@gbrown9663]

Its not cheaper people forgetting the money invested before it got axed.

[@stretch-s2s]

Nothing has been said about the cost of pulling out of the last contract.This Government are playing the public like mugs.

[@riptyurass302]

Why are taxpayers paying for these services? With the prices they're charging to cross the strait I assumed it was privatized.

[@johnkirby8849]

Bluebridge fund their own ships and get rid of them often, better service and cheaper by heaps

[@Phil-oj5nr]

@@johnkirby8849Not so, cost of crossing Cook Strait on either company is very similar in cost for both foot passengers or taking a vehicle.

[@Oznz-m5c]

If it is privatized like Seymour / Atlas Network wants you will be paying a LOT more....

[@johnkirby8849]

@@Phil-oj5nr in my experience vehicle on bluebridge is at least a hundred dollars cheaper, they also have cabins for people and dog friendly cabins as well, where as interislander doesn’t provide such services. I personally prefer bluebridge to the white tubs as as far as value for money bluebridge is better. But that’s my opinion, others may agree or disagree.

[@heli398]

@@johnkirby8849 bluebridge are older ships and smaller..

[@TravellinOn2010]

They dont have a cab on them you have to hire a raincoat from kiwirail on a wet day. Itll be ok, just pick your days going across.

[@MrWillt100]

Blimey they're still show boating. They're just a bunch of fools trying to make themselves look good to the detriment of what's best for the country.

[@subramsubramaniam1327]

Thanks spending unearned money

[@petewood2350]

Do Straight Shipping get a government hand out?

[@Iherdit2day]

Waiting for the Bluebridge announcement? Is there one? 🤔🤨

[@zaphodbeeblebrox1153]

These poly's would do ok in Hollywood. But couldn't wipe their own buttons in the real world.

[@Gaza50575]

come on Shane Jones you know how to ty Hoo

[@savagerampage3010]

What about the ship thats sink in samoa😊

[@adrianhughes5693]

makes you wonder about a tunnel across the straight being a better long term investment how much are the tax payers going to be screwed to maintain these new boats and any port upgrades needed .

[@peterkotara]

I love the idea but it's unreasonable, the cost of building a tunnel through one of the world's most seismically active areas would be phenomenal.

[@dave24-73]

Could they not use the same ports cruise ships use temporary and get the better custom made ferries or are they located elsewhere? Because cruise ships do visit the South Island, and they are bigger than ferries.

[@TheFalconerNZ]

Unlikely to have rail terminals & vehicle loading capacity but I don't know for sure

[@rkctransportationvids]

That's why they should take a look at the Japanese ferries which are half roll-on/roll-off ship and half cruise ship. Vehicles can be loaded from ramps on the front of the ship while rail vehicles can be loaded from the rear, therefore they can operate in just about any port with minimal infrastructure needed.

[@Phil-oj5nr]

Not suitable for Cook Strait conditions, and would cost millions to convert, as new port infrastructure would still be needed.

[@dave24-73]

@ the ferries use to go to lyttelton near CHCH, wonder if they would work.

[@dave24-73]

@ they use to go to Lyttleton though. You may be right it would have costs still, but the new ferries cost 4 million more than the original ones that we already signed up for, so that’s 4M that could go towards upgrades at any port suitable. They don’t need a first class terminal from day one just a functional one.

[@Tasmantradie]

They all half drunk 🥴

[@warrenwood3212]

Off course it is and should be picked up by consumers. Where else dose the money come from , the land of money on trees??

[@drednorzt]

The problem isn't paying for it. Its paying more for it than we otherwise had to, and getting less to boot.

[@warrenwood3212]

@ I didn’t vote for any of the parties in government. But I can be fairly certain they have done due diligence on this purchase and it will work out .

[@drednorzt]

@@warrenwood3212 I wish i was as optimistic about as you are 😂

[@warrenwood3212]

@ But, do you think they want to spend more money on the ferry. I don’t know, I have know idea really, it’s just my thing with this government is that they are tight with cash?

[@Gray-x7g]

Ferries:"Great savings there Winston and Nationals Nicola! ACT continue to be disruptive but great to see the media and Labour happy to chip in...apparently spending large and faster is better🤣😂Yeah yeah it worked well for you but we the taxpayers and Nicola the kiwi mum can see thru the fast roads with slow potholes! Keep Chippy on, no really keep Chippy he's the best 🤣😂 IF not? BRING BACK CINDY 😂😂😂

[@rodgygormin]

how much did they spend fighting the flu? over 100 new ferries.

[@heli398]

Only if they can built a bridge or tunnel between north and south island...

[@kyriestrange]

Do you know how deep it is?!! Plus its a major faultline! 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@FKTHESYSTEM063]

Or just the plane?

[@kyriestrange]

@@FKTHESYSTEM063 bit difficult to put trains on planes id think

[@FKTHESYSTEM063]

@ no need for trains if planes are there. Or bring back the air ship

[@frateris1838]

It's okay, we have a good track record currently with boats sinking, running a-ground. Maybe these won't come with "Auto Pilot" or better yet just have staff miraculously lose all knowledge on how to operate the vessel's and evert disaster.

[@NZTVĀhia]

Build a tunnel or bridge

[@Stoneynz]

Rail transport could be done by a private company in the future if viable as a business though

[@kieranmacdonald83]

We have done that before. They ran it into the ground.

[@Stoneynz]

@@kieranmacdonald83 Only ferries part I meant, not entire system

[@stretch-s2s]

oh Niki no boats you have cocked up big time

[@6DunJuan9]

Just use one of the three naval vessels in dock..two now after some bint put a ding in one, but still

[@drednorzt]

Navy ships are not transport ships.

[@Colonel_Blimp]

There’s plenty of DEI skippers in New Zealand. There’s a navy one needing a job.