In what was claimed as a huge win for International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) affiliate, the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ), the New Zealand Government recently promised to deliver two new, publicly owned and rail-enabled ‘Interislander’ ropaxes.
The Government’s U-turn comes after a concerted campaign from MUNZ, under the banner ‘Our Ferries, Our Future’, it claimed.
“This is a victory for common sense, and an outcome that we’ve been strongly arguing for,” said MUNZ National Secretary, Carl Findlay.
“I want to congratulate the membership of our union, not least the crews of the Interislander ferries for their strong support of the ‘Our Ferries, Our Future’ campaign.”
The campaign was launched in 2024 after the newly elected National Party Government cancelled the previous Labour Government’s contract to replace the ferries.
This sparked fears of a move to privatise and de-unionise the ferry service, while also splitting it from the essential rail service.
Throughout 2024, the campaign included political lobbying, a public petition signed by more than 10,000 people and protests on the streets of Wellington, which was joined by ITF affiliate unions from around the world.
ITF Ferry Taskforce Chair, Ronny Øksnes, said: “This victory for MUNZ shows that standing up and fighting back saves jobs and vital public transport services – and at the same time wins huge benefits for communities.
“I was proud to take to the streets of Wellington to protest alongside MUNZ and our fellow trade unionists from all around the world. It clearly shows that for trade unions an injury to one really is an injury to all: that no matter what, we will always come together to defend each other – and we will win.
“As the world lurches to the right – with the election of far-right governments, rising authoritarianism, and looming trade wars threatening working-class communities – this is the kind of international solidarity that needs to be heard by everyone, everywhere,” he stressed.
Interislander ferries have provided a critical lifeline service, connecting New Zealand’s North Island and South Island across the Cook Strait, since the 1960s.
The current, ageing three ferries are publicly run by KiwiRail and transports passengers, while also performing a vital freight role, carrying trucks and railway wagons.
The new ferries will have a 30-year service life, with the Government stating that it was “looking to the long-term”.
As ITF Maritime Policy Adviser, Sadie Saunders, said last November, while concerns about cost are understandable, “transport infrastructure is a long-term investment that ensures good jobs and efficient supply chains”.
Each new ferry will be able to accommodate 1,500 pax and will be fitted with 2.4 km of lanes for cars and trucks, with 40 rail wagons able to access designated rail decks.
New Zealand Rail Minister, Winston Peters, recently confirmed the Christmas 2029 timeline for delivery and said that although a new wharf would be built in Picton, plans to build new port terminal buildings and fully renew road and rail marshalling yards had been dropped.
Findlay asserted: “There should be no doubt that we will be closely watching developments around reduced expenditure on the new terminals and port infrastructure.”
Contracts are due to be placed for the new ropaxes later this year, the government said.
