The Te Moana o Raukawakawa / Cook Strait connection is central to New Zealand’s transport and tourism network and is known as one of the world’s most scenic ferry routes. Waitohi Picton has supported safe and reliable ferry operations for many decades, with ferries navigating Tōtaranui Queen Charlotte Sound and Kura Te Au Tory Channel as part of a well established and carefully managed route through the Marlborough Sounds, and supported in Picton Harbour by Port Marlborough’s marine fleet of towage vessels.
Waitohi Picton also holds deep cultural significance for iwi as a traditional waka landing site, it has held a long-standing role as a place of arrival, connection and movement across Te Moana o Raukawakawa. This enduring history continues to shape how the harbour is understood and valued today.
Port Marlborough, together with Ferry Holdings is progressing the infrastructure required at Waitohi Picton to accommodate the new rail-enabled ferries that will replace the ageing fleet.
The Waitohi Ferry Redevelopment Project is delivering the infrastructure required to support the operations of two new inter-islander ships, and the necessary enabling works and supporting infrastructure to support Port Marlborough’s ability to maintain existing customer operations.
Our scope also includes enabling works, planning and design, obtaining required consents, and working closely with iwi partners, the community, and project partners to support a successful delivery phase for Picton and the wider region. The project is being carefully staged and managed to support business continuity across the port for all customers, including KiwiRail, Interislander, and StraitNZ Bluebridge.
Work will be carried out in several phases leading up to the delivery, commissioning, and operational transition to the new ferries. Broadly speaking, the three major phases are:
More information will be provided soon about the main construction activity, and updated news posted to this page.
Interislander operates 3,800 services and transports about 850,000 passengers, 250,000 cars and up to $14 billion worth of freight, every year. With these numbers expected to increase, it’s clear why we need new ferries and the appropriate infrastructure to support them. If you’d like to know more about the project to deliver safe, reliable and affordable Cook Strait ferry services for all New Zealanders by 2029, please check out the Ferry Holdings website here. https://www.ferryholdings.co.nz/
For media enquiries or any project-related questions please contact [email protected]
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