Official Information Act response: New Interislander ferries

On 30 June 2021, KiwiRail signed a contract with the Korean shipyard Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) for the delivery of two new ferries to service Cook Strait. This is part of a wider project (Project iReX) to procure new ferries and develop the landside infrastructure in Picton and Wellington to accommodate the new ferries. Given the significance of Project iReX, KiwiRail’s status as a State-Owned Enterprise, and the fact that Crown funding has been allocated towards Project iReX, KiwiRail has engaged with Ministers and Government departments throughout this process.

This proactive release contains official information in relation to the development of Project iReX, and engagement with Ministers in advance of the contract with HMD being signed on 30 June 2021. The documents have been collectively prepared by the Treasury, the Ministry of Transport and KiwiRail for proactive release.

A list of the documents covered by this release is as follows:

Ministry of Transport
10 Nov 2020
KiwiRail’s Interisland Ferry Replacement and the Wellington Ferry Terminal

Ministry of Transport
10 Feb 2021
Advice requested on KiwiRail's iReX project (interisland ferry replacement)

Treasury Report
3 Mar 2021
KiwiRail – advice on iReX project for meeting on 8 March 2021

Treasury Report
11 Mar 2021
KiwiRail – drawdown request

Treasury Report
11 Mar 2021
Budget 2021 Bilateral – Transport Portfolio

KiwiRail letter
20 Apr 2021
Letter from KiwiRail to Minister for State Owned Enterprises

Joint Report: The Treasury and Ministry of Transport
14 May 2021
Delegated authority for potential further Crown iReX funding

Treasury Aide Memoire
1 June 2021
Project iReX: Delegated Authority for Potential Further Crown Funding – speaking notes

Cabinet Paper and Cabinet Minute
3 June 2021
Delegated Authority for Potential Further Crown iReX Funding

KiwiRail briefing
3 June 2021
Project iReX – Interislander and Ferry Replacement

KiwiRail Detailed Business Case
3 June 2021
Interislander Ferries and Terminals

Treasury Aide Memoire
8 June 2021
Meeting with KiwiRail on 9 June to discuss Project iReX

KiwiRail presentation
9 June 2021
Interislander and Terminals Replacement

KiwiRail presentation
18 June 2021
New Interislander ferries contribute to a zero-carbon future

Treasury Report
21 June 2021
KiwiRail – advice on Project iReX

 

Please note, some information is being withheld under the following sections of the OIA:

  1. personal contact details of officials, under section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons;
  2. names and contact details of officials, under section 9(2)(g)(ii) – to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through protecting ministers, members of government organisations, officers and employees from improper pressure or harassment;
  3. advice still under consideration, section 9(2)(f)(iv) – to maintain the current constitutional conventions protecting the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials;
  4. certain sensitive advice, under section 9(2)(g)(i) – to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions;
  5. commercially sensitive information, under section 9(2)(i) - to enable the Crown to carry out commercial activities without disadvantage or prejudice;
  6. information in relation to ongoing negotiations, under section 9(2)(j) - to enable the Crown to negotiate without disadvantage or prejudice; and
  7. direct dial phone numbers of officials, under section 9(2)(k) – to prevent the disclosure of information for improper gain or improper advantage.