Ferry

New ferry operator Island Direct will launch its service between Auckland city and Waiheke Island on 13 November 2023.

Explore Group has launched sailings to Auckland’s Rotoroa Island.

Fullers360 is making further cuts to its Auckland Transport services for up to 18 months as it doubles down on staff training programme.

The ferry operator’s boss says it has “doubled down” on maintenance to ensure a strong-looking summer ahead is not plagued by problems.

Auckland Transport says it will introduce a hybrid-electric ferry on its Devonport services from 2026.

KiwiRail plans to sell its Valentine ferry to free up funding and crew for further passenger and freight ferries.

The incident happened between Russell and Paihia after a recreational vessel and the Waitere ferry collided.

The transport sector agreement is being extended to help ferry businesses access workers.

The Kaitaki ferry will be back in full service tomorrow, Wednesday 12 April, after being out of service since 4 March due to a gearbox issue. 

Fullers360 is reducing fares from Auckland to Waiheke Island during off-peak hours, in a move its chief executive says will make a positive difference to passengers, tourism operators and Waiheke Island business owners.

KiwiRail’s Interislander says almost all passengers with bookings during Easter will be able cross the Cook Strait.

Mayor Nadine Taylor and Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair Daran Ponter have jointly written to Transport Minister Michael Wood, expressing concerns about the lack of support for ships in the Cook Strait.

A “perfect storm” of ferry maintenance work and breakdowns have caused accommodation shortages and heartache for travellers looking to cross the Cook Strait.

The Cook Strait operators are accused of flouting compensation rules but they may not have to meet the same standard as airlines.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison has expressed concern that plans to upgrade the Wellington and Picton ferry terminals may be scaled back.

The Maritime Union has criticised the failure of an engine in the Kaitaki ferry as being an indication of an aging fleet.

Easy By West Ferries and Hutt City Council have raised concerns over young people jumping into the direct line of ferries on the northern side of Days Bay wharf near Wellington.

Entrada Travel Group has secured a twenty-year contract to operate the Noosa North Shore Vehicle Ferry, on behalf of the Noosa Council in Queensland, Australia.

Queenstown public transport users will now be able to use their Bee Card to travel on ferry services from today.

At 24 metres long, the fleet will largest fully electric ferries in the Southern Hemisphere.

Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries owner StraitNZ Holdings has reported a net profit of $17.15m for the year to March 2022, up 64% from the previous period.

Auckland ferry services to Devonport and Waiheke Island are now using Auckland Transport’s AT HOP Card following their successful integration into the public transport network.

An upcoming project to rebuild the Picton ferry terminal has been celebrated with a public information day, held on Saturday.

Auckland Council will invest “hundreds of millions of dollars” into six or seven new electric and low-emissions ferries as part of climate action proposal within Annual Budget 2022/23.

Marlborough District Council has approved a $110m loan to Port Marlborough to finance its share of the Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment.

The southern hemisphere’s first fully electric, high speed commuter ferry launches today in Wellington.

Fullers360 will welcome non-resident travellers to Waiheke Island from today as the traffic light Covid-19 Protection Framework begins.

Fullers360 will start sailings to the Hauraki Gulf conservation islands for recreational visitors from tomorrow, Friday 12 November.

The Wellington ferry firm has suddenly found itself a world leader in electric ferries.

Reduced ferry services across the Cook Strait is leaving supply chains vulnerable in the event of a crisis, says the Maritime Union of New Zealand.

Transport unions are asking whether the fuel type for the new inter-island ferries can be switched to a more environmentally-friendly option.

KiwiRail, CentrePort and Port Marlborough are seeking a single design partner for the delivery of two new ferry terminals.

The Department of Conservation is requesting proposals for a commercial ferry service to Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

Wellington local ferry company East By West is set to launch New Zealand’s first electric passenger ferry on 9 September.

Seatoun Wharf in Wellington will close on 23 July or 12 months for repairs and upgrades.

Interislander passenger numbers for December and January were about 20% down on the same period the previous year, says KiwiRail.

KiwiRail plans to build a new ferry terminal at its current Kaiwharawhara terminal within four years to support its new Interislander ferries.

KiwiRail’s Kaitaki Interislander ferry will resume its ‘Bands on Board’ initiative for travelling musicians over summer.

Fullers360 will add an additional 86 services to and from Waiheke Island from Monday 19 October.

KiwiRail’s proposed new ferries will be able to carry almost 2000 passengers.

Lyttelton-based Black Cat Cruises has been awarded the contract for the Diamond Harbour ferry service for the next 12 years.

East By West Ferries operates the Wellington to Days Bay to Eastbourne ferry route and plans a new ferry service from central Wellington to the airport and Miramar Peninsula.

A passenger ferry service between Kawau Island and Auckland’s mainland will continue so residents can replenish supplies and access essential services.

KiwiRail’s Interislander ferries have moved around 650 essential transport, medical and export industry workers between the North and South Islands in the past fortnight.

The Otago Regional Council will open online consultation on a proposed 18-month trial of a public service water ferry on Lake Wakatipu.

Police in Picton say they are providing traffic management support at the ferry terminals in the town due to heavy congestion.

Go Orange’s Lake Wakatipu ferry service has been thrown a lifeline as the Otago Regional Council proposes adding a water ferry to Queenstown’s public transport network.

Auckland Transport has announced its annual fare changes which come into effect from 9 February 2020.

The government’s Draft New Zealand Rail Plan has proposed a new long-term funding framework for rail which would see Kiwirail’s network funding channelled through the National Land Transport Fund.

The Otago Regional Council is developing a business case for a water ferry on Lake Wakatipu, following news this week Go Orange will cease its public scheduled ferry services come the end of February 2020.