The Long Awaited Kiwirail Interislander Announcement

Is A Nothing Burger

Complimentary:

In July, Nicola Willis promised that her expensive Kiwirail Interislander “independent” advisory committee had finished their work - and an answer was due to the public imminently.

That blew out to August, then September, October, November, before Winston Peters announced the government was definitely going to announce the decision on December 11.

All eyes were on the government as Stuff leaked details of a $900mn cost for ferries that previously cost ~$500mn - and were top shelf, next generation, hybrid technology ferries that accommodated 40 rail wagons, 3000 lane metres for vehicles, and 1800 passengers.

And now, despite their best junk tank advisors and million dollar consultants and PR experts - the government clearly couldn’t spin reality - especially with so many eyes on them.

Today, Willis announces they have a plan to buy new Cook Strait ferries, but won't say how much it will cost, citing the excuse of commercial confidentiality.

Meanwhile, Peters is being given a shiny new role: Minister of Rail.

What an actual joke.

The i-Rex ferries would have arrived in 2026. Willis and Luxon’s incompetence means we are not seeing anything until at least 2029.

Nicola Willis needs to resign - she has cost us upwards of $1bn in costs and these delays are extremely significant.

Maintenance costs on the aging Interislander ferries have doubled to $65mn + a year - and each month of delay is costing Kiwis - not to mention safety risks.

Willis needs to resign.

To be clear - I don’t care that she majored in English literature and was only a corporate lobbyist, Atlas Network NZ Initiative Director, and daughter of an active oil and mining executive, who couldn’t win a seat anywhere in NZ - but I do care that she is so clearly incompetent and made a mammoth and inexcusable error.

Her performance is wholly unacceptable - even amidst a less than shining Cabinet.

Resign, Finance Minister Willis, and if Luxon had any integrity, he would sack her on the spot.

PS

Asked what her message to the New Zealand people, who may be disappointed at the lack of concrete details for replacing the ferries, Willis said: "I've delivered. I've discharged my duty to the New Zealand people.”

Coverage:

Live: Government won't reveal cost of new Cook Strait ferry plan (RNZ)

Live: Government unveils plan to buy new Cook Strait ferries, won't say how much it will cost (Stuff)