Labour claims Nicola Willis' revised Cook Strait ferry plan will increase costs for New Zealanders.
New Zealand's Labour party has criticized the government's revised plan for Cook Strait ferries, stating that it will ultimately cost more and be less efficient. The plan, delivered after a year of deliberation by Transport Minister Nicola Willis, replaces two rail-enabled ferries with smaller vessels. According to Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds, this decision will result in higher costs for ports, freight companies, and consumers due to the need for additional infrastructure.
The initial cancellation of the order for the two rail-enabled ferries is estimated to have cost KiwiRail half a billion dollars, with potential break-of-contract costs adding hundreds of millions more. The new plan's timeline also appears to be delayed, with procurement yet to begin and delivery not expected until 2026 or later. Labour argues that this decision-making process demonstrates a lack of infrastructure planning, prioritizing political gain over long-term benefits for New Zealanders.