Tourism Ticker
The Business of Tourism
 
Tourism Ticker
The Business of Tourism

Tourism Ticker

Tourism Ticker
  News   Recovery   Opinion
Tuesday 05 March 2024
Roundup   Jobs   Calendar  

Ferry

Ferry infrastructure could last beyond 2029 – Port Marlborough 19th February 2024 /

Ferry infrastructure could last beyond 2029 – Port Marlborough

Port Marlborough says the wharf and infrastructure at Picton and the Interislander wharf could last until beyond 2029 if the right maintenance programme is in place.


Airport CEO leads Cook Strait ferry advisory group 16th February 2024 /

Airport CEO leads Cook Strait ferry advisory group

An independent ministerial advisory group led by Nelson Airport’s chief executive Mark Thompson has been set up to determine the future of KiwiRail’s Interislander service.


New Waiheke Island ferry service to launch 24th October 2023 /

New Waiheke Island ferry service to launch

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


Explore Group launches new island service 25th September 2023 /

Explore Group launches new island service

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


Fullers cuts ferry services to focus on crew training 18th August 2023 /

Fullers cuts ferry services to focus on crew training

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


“Don’t waste a crisis” – Interislander’s Rushbrook on ferry fixes ahead of expected strong summer 2nd August 2023 /

“Don’t waste a crisis” – Interislander’s Rushbrook on ferry fixes ahead of expected strong summer

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


AT signs off on fourth low-emission ferry 29th June 2023 /

AT signs off on fourth low-emission ferry

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


KiwiRail selling freight ferry to free up funding, crew 20th June 2023 /

KiwiRail selling freight ferry to free up funding, crew

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


Witnesses sought after collision leaves ferry skipper seriously injured 14th April 2023 /

Witnesses sought after collision leaves ferry skipper seriously injured

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


Govt to ease residency rules for migrant skippers to help operators 11th April 2023 /

Govt to ease residency rules for migrant skippers to help operators

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


Interislander ferry Kaitaki to return to service tomorrow… 11th April 2023 /

Interislander ferry Kaitaki to return to service tomorrow…

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 reduces off-peak Waiheke Island fares by 50% 30th March 2023 /

Fullers360 reduces off-peak Waiheke Island fares by 50%

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.


Easter sailings confirmed for 90% of passengers – Interislander 28th March 2023 /

Easter sailings confirmed for 90% of passengers – Interislander

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


Support urged for “vulnerable” Cook Strait shipping 22nd March 2023

Support urged for “vulnerable” Cook Strait shipping

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.


Marlborough open for business despite “perfect storm” of ferry problems – Moffat 13th March 2023 /

Marlborough open for business despite “perfect storm” of ferry problems – Moffat

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


“Ferry operators different to airlines” – Interislander sticks by refund, compensation policy 28th February 2023 /

“Ferry operators different to airlines” – Interislander sticks by refund, compensation policy

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


Union boss concerned about ferry terminal development downgrade 16th February 2023 /

Union boss concerned about ferry terminal development downgrade

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.


Kaitaki ferry failure sign of lagging govt investment – Maritime Union 31st January 2023 /

Kaitaki ferry failure sign of lagging govt investment – Maritime Union

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


East By West calls out wharf jumpers 25th November 2022 /

East By West calls out wharf jumpers

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 expands in Aus with 20-year ferry contract 9th November 2022 /

Entrada expands in Aus with 20-year ferry contract

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.


Bee Card rolled out on Queenstown ferries 26th October 2022 /

Bee Card rolled out on Queenstown ferries

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


Auckland’s first electric ferry could be ready by 2024 9th September 2022 /

Auckland’s first electric ferry could be ready by 2024

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


Bluebridge owner reports revenue, profit jump 31st August 2022 /

Bluebridge owner reports revenue, profit jump

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.


Fullers360 rolls out HOP system for ferries 9th August 2022 /

Fullers360 rolls out HOP system for ferries

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.


Picton ferry terminal rebuild to start early 2023 25th July 2022 /

Picton ferry terminal rebuild to start early 2023

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


Auckland to invest in up to 7 electric, low-emission ferries 2nd June 2022 /

Auckland to invest in up to 7 electric, low-emission ferries

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.


$110m loan for ferry precinct redevelopment approved 8th March 2022 /

$110m loan for ferry precinct redevelopment approved

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


East by West launches electric ferry 17th December 2021 /

East by West launches electric ferry

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


Non-residents can travel to Waiheke from today – Fullers360 3rd December 2021 /

Non-residents can travel to Waiheke from today – Fullers360

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


Fullers360 resumes sailings to conservation islands 11th November 2021 /

Fullers360 resumes sailings to conservation islands

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


Electric ferry will itself be a tourist attraction – East by West 5th November 2021

Electric ferry will itself be a tourist attraction – East by West

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


Reduced Interislander services needs fixing – Maritime Union 17th September 2021 /

Reduced Interislander services needs fixing – Maritime Union

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.


Unions push for methanol Cook Strait ferries 30th August 2021 /

Unions push for methanol Cook Strait ferries

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


KiwiRail, ports seek single design partner for new ferry terminals 26th August 2021 /

KiwiRail, ports seek single design partner for new ferry terminals

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


DOC seeks proposals for Tiritiri Matangi Island ferry service 25th August 2021 /

DOC seeks proposals for Tiritiri Matangi Island ferry service

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


NZ’s first electric ferry to launch in Sept 9th August 2021

NZ’s first electric ferry to launch in Sept

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


Seatoun ferry wharf to close for a year 20th July 2021 /

Seatoun ferry wharf to close for a year

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


Interislander summer passenger numbers fall 20% 5th February 2021 /

Interislander summer passenger numbers fall 20%

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


Opposition prompts KiwiRail to upgrade current terminal 17th December 2020 /

Opposition prompts KiwiRail to upgrade current terminal

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


Performing musicians to travel free on ferry 19th October 2020 /

Performing musicians to travel free on ferry

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


Fullers360 boosts Waiheke services 14th October 2020

Fullers360 boosts Waiheke services

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


KiwiRail’s new ferries will have triple capacity of current vessels 28th May 2020 /

KiwiRail’s new ferries will have triple capacity of current vessels

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


Black Cat retains Diamond Harbour ferry contract 22nd May 2020

Black Cat retains Diamond Harbour ferry contract

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


Electric ferry service promoted as ‘shovel ready’ 21st April 2020 /

Electric ferry service promoted as ‘shovel ready’

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.


Kawau Cruises to run essential ferry services 20th April 2020 /

Kawau Cruises to run essential ferry services

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


Interislander ferries move hundreds of essential workers 17th April 2020 /

Interislander ferries move hundreds of essential workers

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.


Otago council seeks feedback on Wakatipu ferry 15th April 2020 /

Otago council seeks feedback on Wakatipu ferry

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


Police manage congestion at ferry terminals 25th March 2020 /

Police manage congestion at ferry terminals

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


Lifeline for Go Orange’s Queenstown ferry service 31st January 2020 /

Lifeline for Go Orange’s Queenstown ferry service

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.


Ferry fares to rise after Auckland Transport changes 21st January 2020

Ferry fares to rise after Auckland Transport changes

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