Govt Gets It Wrong With Cancelled Ferries – Greens

The cost of cancelling the iRex ferries shows the wastefulness and short-term thinking of the Coalition Government.

“We could have had new ferries by next year and millions of dollars left over to spend on critical infrastructure if it weren’t for this irresponsible Government,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Transport, Julie Anne Genter.

“This decision to cancel the contract for new ferries has cost us $671 million. This is a missed opportunity and a massive mark against this Government’s credibility.

“For context, that amount of money could have funded the electrification of the main rail line from Waikanae to Palmerston North, or built thousands of much-needed homes.

“New Zealanders should have been taking those new ferries this and next year – instead we’ve had the Aratere taken out of commission, and more trucks on the road as a result of retiring our only rail-enabled ferry.

“The Hyundai order for two new rail-enabled ferries for $550m was one of the best deals the country ever signed up to. This Coalition Government tore it up and will likely be forced into signing a deal that leaves us worse off in the short and long term.

“The Government must stop cutting corners and commit to funding a transport network that works for people and planet,” says Julie Anne Genter.