New Zealand government to finalize ferry decisions soon

The Government is set to make important decisions about new ferries for the Cook Strait. By the end of March, they will shortlist shipyards and release detailed ship specifications. Minister for Rail Winston Peters mentioned potential interest from shipyards in South Korea and Finland. A selected shipyard should be determined by the end of this year. This follows nearly two years of investigation into the issues plaguing the current Interislander fleet. The investigation began after significant concerns were raised about the fleet's disrepair. In 2023, it was announced that two large ferries would replace the aging fleet by 2026. However, these plans have now changed due to unexpected cost increases related to port infrastructure. This has left uncertainty about the future of ferry services.