Andrew Dickens: Why the problem with the Interislander isn't the boats

Cabinet today, and the promise this week is that we're going to get a ferry plan.  Apparently there might be an announcement on Wednesday.  It's been a year since Nicola Willis pulled the plug on the Kiwirail's ferry plan and it wasn't because the ferries were so expensive, in fact, these ferries were a really good deal. It was because of the cost of the port side developments.  And I think this is something that gets lost in the whole debate when we talk about it.  The ships weren't the problem. The misconception is that the cost was blowing out because the ferries were bigger than our previous fleet.  So the biggest factor in the cost blowout was the relocation and the rebuilding of both the Kiwirail and Bluebridge ferries to get them out of an earthquake zone.  There was also the need for the new port to have considerable earthquake strengthening.  Look where the Wellington port is and how far away it is from the main fault line. You need to earthquake strengthen this. Our ports at the moment fall down, and they did last what time during Kaikoura.  So there's a need for a considerable earthquake strengthening. Kiwirail also wanted a gold plated ferry terminal which would last long term so that you walk into it and it's like, wow, this is amazing.  And then finally on top of that, the ports needed to be a bit longer.  So, from what I've heard so far, it seems as though the government will pick up some second-hand boats which actually have more life after them than before them, but that's what happens when you pick up a second-hand boat.  But that's not really an issue unless of course, unless they start falling apart as soon as we get them.  So when we look at this plan that comes out this week, we need to be looking at the port rather than the boats.  Will it be relocated? Will it be strong enough to bear up to the inevitable earthquake? Will the terminal be comfy or will the terminal be a chilly shed? And how much do you want to spend on this? Kiwirail was arrogant thinking that the government would provide them with their billions on their say so a blank check. The government wasn't wrong to say tally ho. But the government now has to prove that their plan is not just a second hand option that will continue to provide headaches in the years to come, because the indisputable fact is we are a country that's mostly spread over two islands with 26 miles of very treacherous water between them.  And so the infrastructure that connects the two of us together is absolutely 100% critical.  So let's see what this plan is coming out on Wednesday, we hope. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.