The Aratere And The New Zealand Main Trunk Line
Government-owned Kiwirail is supposed to be presiding over the New Zealand Main Trunk (Railway) Line, from Auckland to Invercargill. As such it runs a ferry service (The Interislander) between New Zealand's North and South Islands.
We are being told by Kiwirail (and see today's report on Radio NZ) that the only rail-enabled roll-on roll-off ferry – the Aratere – will cease operations in August this year, five years before its putative successor ferries will commence operations.
At the same time, rail is being revitalised in the South Island, with the Hillside workshops redevelopment. (And see the following on Scoop last Friday: New Hillside Workshops Officially Opened and Rail Workers Celebrate Hillside Workshops Rebirth.) How can this be: simultaneous expansion and contraction of New Zealand's trunk railway under the governance of the same government?
There is a simple conceptual solution, which covers both the short run and the long-run.
Kiwirail could relocate the Interislander's South Island terminus to Lyttelton, the rail-accessible port of Christchurch. Indeed this should have become policy after the dramatic 2016 Kaikoura earthquake which destroyed both railway and highway around Kaikoura, halfway between Wellington and Christchurch; both road and rail main trunk. Not only is the present route precarious, but also it is so much 'greener' for both road and rail traffic between the North Island and the southern 85% of the South Island (by population) to travel by sea between Wellington and Christchurch. That is, the bulk of interisland vehicle travel undertaken directly by sea is more sustainable than a journey by sea between Wellington and Picton followed by a long 340km Picton to Christchurch land journey.
The suggested solution is that The Interislander should operate out of Lyttelton from about 2030, leaving Bluebridge to service the Wellington Picton route. If that were to happen, then the Aratere could stay in service until 2030; because the new facilities suited to the new ships – at least the South Island facilities – would not have to be on the same site as Picton's present rail-ship facilities.
Last year I wrote to MPs from all five parties, before it was too late to cancel the shipping order for the cancelled iRex project, including the Labour MP for Lyttelton. Only the Green Party bothered to reply to me. And even they were unenthusiastic about the idea of the Interislander shifting to Lyttelton; their lack of interest came across as more a matter of political priority than as an argument about economics or sustainability.
Maybe I am stupid, and I simply cannot see the obvious reasons why a shift back to Lyttelton cannot happen. But I really think we should have a national conversation about the restoration of ferry services between Wellington and Lyttelton; and with the current consciousness about the future of rail being a very important stimulus to that conversation.
After all, for over 100 years, before 1960, Wellington to Lyttelton was the essential 'main trunk' link between the two islands. The change-around happened around 1960 because the previous Wellington to Picton service had become so run-down that something had to be done about it. And that there just happened to be a relatively new railhead at Picton. After 1960, the Lyttelton service was doomed to fail when it became a one-ship service in 1968, after the tragic demise of the then state-of-the-art Wahine.
Why don't we have national conversations anymore? Everything seems to happen as a fait accompli, narratives driven by unimaginative back-office accountants with short time horizons. And mainstream academics and media simply accept this under-democratic state of affairs.
We are still suffering from the infrastructure backlog that escalated in the early 1990s when Finance Minister Ruth Richardson forced many of New Zealand's unemployed and underemployed to emigrate, especially to Australia; all in the name of 'fiscal responsibility'. Some of those people who left for Australia just as its banking crisis was unfolding – especially their children – are drifting back to New Zealand in the 2010s and 2020s as '501' deportees (see Product of Australia, Stuff December 2019, and noting in a chart that more than half of the 501s deported to New Zealand from 2015 to 2019 were aged 26 to 40).
Those young (mainly) men could have been building New Zealand; instead, too many became criminals in Australia. And the New Zealand economy regressed for the best part of ten years (from 1985), while the rest of the world was progressing. That period is the source of the now-entrenched Australia New Zealand differential in living standards.
Keith Rankin (keith at rankin dot nz), trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.
Keith Rankin
Political Economist, Scoop Columnist
Keith Rankin taught economics at Unitec in Mt Albert since 1999. An economic historian by training, his research has included an analysis of labour supply in the Great Depression of the 1930s, and has included estimates of New Zealand's GNP going back to the 1850s.
Keith believes that many of the economic issues that beguile us cannot be understood by relying on the orthodox interpretations of our social science disciplines. Keith favours a critical approach that emphasises new perspectives rather than simply opposing those practices and policies that we don't like.
Keith retired in 2020 and lives with his family in Glen Eden, Auckland.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
New Zealand Government Feigns Neutrality In US-Israeli War Against Iran
New Zealand's right-wing National Party-led coalition government is seeking to portray itself as uninvolved in the murderous US-Israeli assault on Iran and neutral in the escalating war in the Middle East. On July 13, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described Israel's unprovoked missile strikes against Iran as 'unwelcome' and 'potentially catastrophic.' He told reporters, 'The risk of miscalculation is high. That region does not need any more military action… What we want to see is the parties coming together and having a conversation.' Speaking to Radio NZ on June 17, however, Foreign Minister Winston Peters refused to condemn Israel's ongoing attacks, which by then had killed hundreds of people. Asked whether his government 'supports Israel taking this unilateral action,' Peters replied: 'we do not take sides in a conflict of this nature.' He called for 'de-escalation and diplomacy' but added that 'Iran is not an innocent player in this.' He said both sides were engaged in 'provocative behaviour.' Such statements amount to a falsification of what is taking place and a defence of Israel. The regime in Israel, led by fascist criminals, is engaged in a genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza and has waged illegal wars against Lebanon, Syria and now Iran. Its aim, working with the full collaboration of the US, is to expand Israel's borders and redivide the entire Middle East in favour of the imperialist powers. The pretext given by Israel—that Iran was close to producing a nuclear weapon—is a transparent lie, just like the lies that Iraq had 'weapons of mass destruction' that were told to justify the criminal US-led invasion and destruction of Iraqi society. After President Donald Trump demanded the 'unconditional surrender' of Iran's government and said there were no plans to kill its leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'for now,' the New Zealand Herald asked Peters on June 18 whether he would support a US strike on uranium enrichment in Iran. The foreign minister replied that 'we do not believe in war when we haven't fully exhausted negotiations and diplomacy.' He added that New Zealand was a 'small country, way out here in the Southwest Pacific… I wish New Zealanders would understand our limitations here.' The reality, however, is that New Zealand is actively supporting Israeli and US military operations in the Middle East. In January 2024, a group of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel were sent to Saudi Arabia to assist in the US bombing of targets in Yemen, in response to the Houthi forces' efforts to stop ships from supplying the Israeli war machine. New Zealand is a minor imperialist power allied with the US and a member of the US-led Five Eyes intelligence sharing network, raising further questions about its involvement. Asked during a press conference on June 16 whether New Zealand had received advance notice from the US about the attack on Iran, Peters replied, 'Well, we don't make those discussions public.' If the NZ military had foreknowledge of the illegal Israeli missile strike and kept quiet, that would make it complicit in the attack. The far-right Platform podcast's host Sean Plunket asked Peters the next day whether or not the NZ military personnel stationed in Saudi Arabia had 'provided any intelligence or material support to the Israeli operation' against Iran. The foreign minister replied: 'Even if I could confirm that, I would not be doing that,' because to do so would endanger the lives of these personnel. The entire political establishment is nervous about widespread anti-war sentiment in New Zealand, which has been expressed in repeated protests against the genocide in Gaza. The opposition Labour Party's deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni told RNZ on June 17, 'we don't support what Israel is doing and we don't support [Iran's] response either.' Like Peters, she called for 'diplomacy' between the two sides. Sepuloni expressed support for the government's decision to join Canada, Australia, the UK and Norway in imposing sanctions on Israel's extreme right-wing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. She called for 'greater sanctions,' including on companies operating illegally in the occupied Palestinian territories. All of this is completely hollow and is intended to divert attention from the fact that Labour continues to support the military alliance with the US, which is funding and supplying Israel's military and supports the complete ethnic cleansing of Gaza and war against Iran. Previous Labour Party-led governments have sent troops to the criminal US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2022 Jacinda Ardern's Labour-led government, which included the Greens, sent hundreds of troops to Britain to assist in training Ukrainian conscripts to fight in the US-NATO proxy war against Russia. Labour agrees with the current government's plan to double military spending over the next few years, from 1 to 2 percent of GDP—at the expense of social programs that working people rely on. The aim, spelled out in numerous official documents and statements, is to prepare the military for joint operations with the US and Australia, particularly against China, which is considered the main 'threat' to US global hegemony. The war against Russia over Ukraine, the genocide in Gaza, the war against Iran and the military build-up against China are all interconnected fronts in a rapidly developing world war aimed at seizing resources and markets and resolving the crisis of capitalism centred in the US. New Zealand's ruling elite is preparing to deepen its involvement on all these fronts, behind the backs and against the will of the population, who are overwhelmingly against war. The working class must take action to stop the war, but for this it needs its own socialist political party and strategy—in opposition to all the capitalist parties including Labour and its allies. The only way to put an end to war is through the unified action of the international working class to abolish the source of war: the capitalist system. Those who agree with this must take the decision to become politically active and join the Socialist Equality Group, which is fighting to build a section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world party of socialist revolution, in New Zealand. By Tom Peters, Socialist Equality Group 22 June 2025
NZ Herald
14-06-2025
- NZ Herald
Letters: The ABC of boys' education needs a reintroduction; should we add Joe Schmidt to the NZ Rugby board?
(b) They have a clear focus and structure and know the limits and consequences. (c) There's a real challenge to action of some sort. At the time, we summed up these findings under three headings: Affirmation, Boundaries and Challenge. In short, an ABC of boys' learning. After staff feedback, each of these three vital elements was broken down into practical suggestions for teacher action that would maximise boys' enthusiasm for, and confidence in, classroom (and school-wide) learning. These ideas seem similar to what is being arrived at again in 2025, but it was useful to have them reduced to a clear, simple package that teachers could use on a daily basis. Maybe the ABC needs a reintroduction. Alister Williams, Waikanae. Ferry fiasco Nicola Willis demands accountability from everyone except herself. The cancellation of the Irex ferries project was done with little thought as to how it would affect the country as a whole. First, the Government waits nearly a year after the cancellation to appoint a Railways Minister who occasionally makes an announcement that there will be another announcement in the future. Meanwhile, our ferries, which are the lifeline between islands, either break down or get consigned to the scrap heap. Under Irex, we would have had the new ferries next year, but it is suggested it would be a risk to your life if you held your breath for the now-promised date of 2029. The cost of cancelling the Irex ferries is still a secret and we don't know the cost of the promised new ones. Unfortunately, we got a Toyota instead of a Ferrari when the PM appointed the Minister of Finance. Reg Dempster, Albany. Strategic infrastructure It's easy for people to be critical of the current Government over its decisions on the contract for new ferries. But the real issue goes beyond that instance. Major strategic infrastructure projects have been politicised for more than half a century. Our politicians play their ongoing games of one-upmanship and there are no winners, only losers - the people of New Zealand. The ferries and rail connections between the North and South Islands have been an integral part of the national transport system for how long, 70 years? Maybe more. No surprises, then, that it's a piece of strategic infrastructure that deserves better than the petty childish games our politicians play. It doesn't matter which party they are from, they are all the same. So, people of New Zealand, try not to cherry-pick your political targets when it comes to infrastructure projects. Instead, demand a better deal from all our politicians with respect to major/strategic projects. It's not difficult to identify them, is it? Phil Chitty, Albany. Tagging on and off I fail to understand why AT would charge senior citizens for forgetting to tag off. AT's website says that, if you fail to tag off, you will be charged the full cost of the journey to the end of the route. If you travel after 9am on a SuperGold Card, there is no cost for any part of the journey. So how can charging for a non-concession fare be reasonable? Kathy Simpson, Freeman's Bay. Troubled times for NZ Rugby Gregor Paul's 'Rugby Revolution' (June 8) is an excellent review of the troubled times at NZ Rugby with All Blacks coach Scott Robertson's appointment, the captaincy, selection and game plan questions. Not the hoped-for transition, and we are expecting better this year. A new CEO will help. The great loss to NZ Rugby was that Robertson could not find room for the very talented Joe Schmidt in his coaching team when asked to by NZR. It has not gone unnoticed how successful Schmidt has been with the Wallabies, a tenure ending when he hands over to Les Kiss at the end of the year. Perhaps NZ Rugby could offer Schmidt a seat on the NZR board on his return to New Zealand. It would be a shame to lose this level of rugby intelligence twice. Gary Carter, Gulf Harbour.
Scoop
13-06-2025
- Scoop
‘Quiet Street' To Become Permanent SH1 Through Picton
Article – Kira Carrington – Local Democracy Reporter A resident who describes the decision as 'pretty horrible' is concerned about a nearby school. By , Local Democracy reporter Picton's Kent St is to become the new State Highway 1, to the surprise of some of its residents. New Zealand Transport Agency / Waka Kotahi has announced that Kent St, which has been a 'de facto state highway' during ferry terminal works since 2023, will officially become SH1, with some improvements to suit. The route bypasses the Nelson Square roundabout and central Picton, taking a more direct route towards the ferry terminal. Kent St resident Pam Wharehoka, who has lived on the street since 1982, said it 'used to be a quiet street'. 'Hardly anyone came down [here], kids used to ride their bikes down here. [That] can't happen any more.' When the terminal works started and all the trucks started coming down the street, the children welcomed it, she said. 'The kids used to stand out there and [wave], and the drivers would give them a toot.' The Interislander ferry terminal moved to Lagoon Rd in 2023, as part of wider works for the now-canned iReX ferry project to accommodate new, larger ferries. NZTA regional manager of system design Richard Osborne said that ever since, all traffic accessing the ferry terminals had been going down Kent St. 'Kent St has been acting as the de facto state highway. This is one of the key aspects the Picton Road Network Improvements Project wants to address,' Osborne said. He said NZTA was obliged to send a Notice of Requirement to the Marlborough District Council to commandeer the council-owned road. The road would be maintained by Marlborough Roads, which was responsible for both council-owned roads and NZTA state highways. Kent St resident Sue Letchford said the announcement was a long time coming. 'Well, it's been coming for years, but it's still pretty horrible,' Letchford said. She was worried about the safety of students from Picton School, which backed onto Kent St. NZTA said it would work with the Marlborough District Council to install a variable speed limit by the school, with a lower speed limit in place during peak school time. Picton School declined to comment on the changes. Letchford said she was pleased that the roads would be upgraded to support the increase in traffic. 'Kent St is all right, but Oxford St gets ripped out … constantly.' Kent St residents had previously complained that the increase in trucks was noisy and 'smashing up' the road, which required 'major reconstruction'. Kent St resident Linda Andrell said the sounds of the trucks were just white noise to her. 'I've been here a few years now so I don't even [hear it]. Maybe at about 10 o'clock at night you might notice it.' Dean Humphrey said the news was 'good and bad'. 'We're talking about the [street] parking here … We're going to be up at the library and have a talk to them about it,' Humphrey said, referring to drop-in sessions planned for next week. The sessions will be held at Picton Library and Service Centre Waitohi Whare Mātauranga on 17-18 June. Work on the planned upgrades will start mid-next year.
