The government has at last unveiled a plan for replacing the Interislander ferries - almost one year after it scrapped Labour's project.
Under the new arrangement, just announced at Parliament, the government will set up a new Crown-owned company to purchase two new ferries, to begin operation in 2029
Nicola Willis has not revealed the cost of the project, saying it is "commercial confidential" while negotiations are underway, but are "expected to be much less" than the previous scheme.
The government cancelled a previous replacement plan, called iRex, because the two mega ferries needed major terminal and port upgrades at Wellington and Picton, which would have pushed the overall cost to $3 billion.
In recent years, Interislander and its competitor Bluebridge have faced recurring mechanical challenges, with sailings cancelled and passengers reporting difficulty getting alternative bookings.
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