The Cook Strait Ferries link the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
In past centuries ships traded all along the coast of New Zealand, also crossing from
North to South Island.
The ferry service between Wellington and Picton started operation in 1962.
New Zealand Railways inaugurated a rail ferry service then.
This service was named Interisland Line in 1989 and later became known as The Interislander.
In 1972 the Arahanga was the last ship built at the John Brown Shipyard in Scottland.
Like the previous Cook Strait ferries it was a road / rail ferry.
It was a dedicated freight ferry with only a relatively small space for passenger accommodation.
Here it is in Wellington Harbour.
[May 1994].
The Aratika was built in 1974 in France as a rail freight ferry.
In 1976 she was converted in Hong Kong to also carry passengers and private vehicles.
With a capacity of 830 passengers, she was for many years the workhorse of the fleet.
The Aratika in Picton. [May 1994].
The Arahura was ordered specifically for this route by
New Zealand Rail. After a livery change, the ship worked for the rebranded Interisland Line,
still owned by New Zealand Rail. Just as The Interislander, the ship also passed on to the
subsequent railway owners - TranzRail, Toll, and KiwiRail. Here it is passing through the quiet
Queen Charlotte Sound on its way from Picton to Wellington. [May 2004]
This is the side view of the Arahura. The large passenger accommodation area is clearly visible. [May 2004]
The Arahura was taken out of operation in July 2015, after over 30 years of service.
Several years earlier the ship arrives in Wellington. [Nov 2008]
In 2008 the Arahura was rebuilt to better accommodate campervans and trucks, including those carrying
dangerous goods.
The passenger accommodation was reduced at the same time.
Here, the ship has turned to land aft in Wellington [Nov 2008]
A Dsg locomotive loads railway wagons onto the rail deck of the Arahura in Wellington.
A special link span allows for quick loading and discharge of rail vehicles.
[Jan 2009].
The view from the aft of the Arahura in Cook Strait.
The Arahura has just crossed the fellow Interislander ferry Aratere.
[Jan 2009].
The Interislander ships navigate through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds.
Just a few more trees on the surrounding hills would make the landscape more pleasant.
This is the view of the bridge of the Arahura from the passenger deck. [Jan 2009]
The sun sets over the Marlborough Sounds as the Arahura makes its way to Picton. [Jan 2009]
Arahura means Pathway to dawn in Maori.
Here the Arahura is seen at dusk in the middle of the Cook Strait. [Jan 2009]
The Arahura underway in the Tory Channel, which is part of the Marlborough Sounds.
On this photo it is obvious that the refit in 2008 has robbed the ferry somewhat of its previous elegant form.
[Nov 2009]
The waters of Cook Strait can be quite rough at times.
Here, the Arahura has just left the sheltered Marlborough Sounds behind
and crosses the open waters of Cook Strait to Wellington. [Jul 2013]
The Arahura is entering Wellington Harbour, also known as Port Nicholson, after crossing the Cook Strait.
The entrance can be quite difficult to navigate during rough seas.
In October 2015 the Arahura left Wellington for scrapping in India.
[Mar 2013].
The Aratere was built in 1998 by the Spanish shipyard Hijos de J. Barreras for TranzRail, which then operated The Interislander.
Here, the ferry has entered Wellington Harbour. [Nov 2008]
The Aratere was owned by a financing company and leased to TranzRail.
Initially, she was thought to be the first ship for a fleet renewal of two large ships and one smaller ship
shuttling between Wellington and a new terminal at Clifford Bay.
Nothing came from the Clifford Bay proposal and here the smaller ship, the Aratere is seen on the way to Picton.
[Jun 1999].
The Aratere was then purchased by an Australian finance company and leased back to TranzRail.
But at the time I took this photo from my Wellington flat, the Aratere was owned by KiwiRail,
which from July 2008 took over The Interislander together with the New Zealand rail operations. [Sep 2008]
A night shot onboard the Aratere as it leaves Picton.
The smokestacks with the prominent Interislander logo are near the aft of the ship. [Jul 2008]
Overthe years, the Aratere had several issues, such engine and steering failures.
When it first arrived in Wellington, the railings were not child-proof so that it could not sail before modifications.
Here, it is in the choppy waters of Cook Strait. [Jan 2009]
The Aratere had a new mooring system, with large suction cups attaching to steel plates on the wharf.
This has performed well.
Since then, the ship-mounted IronSailor system has been replaced by the wharf-mounted MoorMaster system.
The Aratere in Cook Strait. [Jan 2009]
The Aratere has left the Wellington ferry terminal and now travels across the Wellington Harbour
on its voyage to Picton.
[Sep 2010].
The Aratere departs Wellington. [Apr 2010]
The bridge of the Aratere as seen from the upper observation deck. [Oct 2010]
In 2011 the Aratere was lengthened and refitted to carry more freight and passengers.
In November 2013 the Aratere lost one of its propellers, putting it out of service for some time.
Here, it is on its way in the Marlborough Sounds. [Mar 2013]
After the Arahura was taken out of service, the Aratere remains the only ferry
with a rail deck on the Cook Strait.
It is therefore heavily used, although in future more railfreight may be shipped on road ferries by using
containers.
The Aratere sails through Queen Charlotte Sound. [Jan 2020]
The Aratere travels through the Marlborough Sounds.
[Jan 2020]
The Aratere arrives in Picton.
[Jan 2020].
Slowly the Aratere turns around.
[Jan 2020].
And then the Aratere moves aft into the ferry berth in Picton withe the stern first.
[Jan 2020].
The Aratere only has a stern door.
Once it was lengthened it took a lot of the freight traffic for the InterIslander.
[Jan 2020].
From 2003 to 2006 The Interislander operated the Purbeck
as a freight-only ferry.
It was chartered from its European owners, but was painted in the Interislander colours.
Here, it is in Wellington Harbour. [May 2004]
From 1994 to 2005 The Interislander operated fast ferries und the brand The Lynx.
In the initial years the service only ran during the summer.
From 2003 to 2005 the service was operated by High Speed Catamaran Incat 046.
Here, it is in Wellington Harbour, passing the suburb of Seatoun. [Apr 2004]
However, speed restrictions were imposed for operation in Wellington Harbour and the Marlborough Sounds,
Therefore, the ferries could only sail at full speed in Cook Strait, and only during good weather.
Therefore, they provided little advantage over standard ferries and were discontinued.
Here, the Incat 046 meets the Aratere off the South Coast of Wellington. [Oct 2003]
The outdoor passenger area was quite small on Incat 046. It was nevertheless sufficient to get a picture of the
side wing of the bridge as the fast ferry makes its way across Cook Strait to the South Island. [May 2004]
The Interislander fleet policy changed in 2005 when one of its main ship was not a rail ferry
specifically designed for The Interislander, but rather they chartered a large passenger and vehicle ferry
from Stena Line, the Stena Challenger.
It was renamed Challenger and later translated into Maori, so that the ferry was named Kaitaki.
The Kaitaki arrives in Wellington. [Sep 2008]
The Kaitaki has a stern and a bow door.
In Wellington it normally berthed with the bow, while in Picton it berthed with the stern to
the ferry ramp. Here, it prepares for maneouvering into its berth at Wellington. [Sep 2008]
The Kaitaki is entering Wellington Harbour on a fine autumn day.
The picture was taken from Brooklyn, a suburb of Wellington. [Apr 2009]
The Kaitaki travels through the Marlborough Sounds.
A view from on board with the large smokestack of the ship near the aft.
Trucks and a bus are parked on the outside deck. [Nov 2009]
It is already dark as the Kaitaki makes its way across Cook Strait.
The hills near Wellington are in the background. [Nov 2009]
The Kaitaki enters Wellington Harbour from Cook Strait.
On the hill is Baring Head Lighthouse, which is still in use.
On the rocks below is New Zealand's first permanent, but now decomissioned lighthouse - Pencarrow Head Lighthouse. [Apr 2010]
The Kaitaki travels along Wellington Harbour.
The barren hills full of gorse are visible in the background.
I took these pictures from the Wellington Harbour Ferry. [Apr 2010]
Bow first, the Kaitaki enters the berth in Wellington.
The facilities of the Interislander in Wellington are in the suburb of Kaiwharawhara. [Apr 2010]
In Picton the Kaitaki enters the berth with the stern first.
Passengers here have to walk along the open vehicle deck to reach the passenger bridge. [Mar 2013]
In Picton the ferries berth right next to the yacht harbour.
Here's a view of the Kaitaki from the yacht harbour in Picton. [Mar 2013]
The Kaitaki sits alongside a Strait Shipping ferry in Picton.
In 2017 KiwiRail bought the Kaitaki.
[Jan 2020].
On 28 January 2023 the Kaitaki lost power with 900 passengers onboard, just south of Wellington Harbour,
not far from some dangerous rocks.
An investigation found that a rubber expansion joint ruptured, causing the ship's high-temperature cooling water system to fail.
The rubber expansion joint was old when installed and was not replaced within the required timeframe.
Several ferry failures in early 2023 meant that there was very limited capacity on the ferries, impacting travellers and freight.
On a better day the Kaitaki arrives in Wellington Harbour.
[Oct 2023].
The Kaitaki was launched in 1995.
In its final years it proved somewhat unreliable.
As the biggest Cook Strait ferry at the time, any fault affected freight and travellers significantly.
The Kaitaki travels along Wellington Harbour with the Hutt Valley in the background.
[Oct 2023].
In 2013 InterIslander chartered the Stena Alegra to cover for the Aratere,
which was undergoing maintenance after it lost its propeller.
The Stena Alegra suffered several mechanical problems while on charter for InterIslander.
Nevertheless, after returning to Stena, a long-term charter for the Stena Alegra was signed in 2014.
The ship was renamed Kaiarahi in 2015 and returned to the Cook Strait to work for the InterIslander.
The ship in Picton.
[Jan 2020].
The Kaiarahi entered service in 1998 as the Dawn Merchant.
The ferry was built by Astilleros Españoles in Spain.
It is 179.93m long and 25.24m wide. It has a capacity for 520 passengers.
The Kaiarahi arrives in Picton in the rain.
[Jan 2020].
The Kaiarahi sits alongside the Strait Feronia in Picton.
The InterIslander and Strait Shipping berths are side by side in Picton,
but they are accessed from different sides of the railway yards.
[Jan 2020].
The Kaiarahi has departed Picton.
In the background is the Shakespeare Bay log terminal.
In 2019 InterIslander bought the Kaiarahi from Stena Roro.
[Jan 2020].
The Kaiarahi has both stern and bow doors.
In Wellington she has berthed with the bow first.
The railyards are near the Kaiwharawhara ferry terminal in Wellington.
The motorway bridge crosses the railyards and passes close to the terminal.
[Jan 2020].
The Kaiarahi sits at the Picton terminal at night.
The ferries operate around the clock, with mainly freight being carried at night.
[Jan 2020].
The Kaiarahi makes its way in the Wellington Harbour towards the InterIslander berth.
At this time construction was already underway for a new terminal that would be able to handle larger ferries.
[Oct 2023].
In June 2021 KiwiRail signed a contract with the ship builder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard of Korea for two large rail-enabled ferries in 2025 and 2026.
These ships required new terminals. As the old terminals required major upgrading in any case, this was considered prudent.
After construction had started and due to further investigation, the costs of these terminals began to rise.
The Labour Government agreed to some additional funding, but the new coalition government decided in December 2023 not to fund the project any longer, in particular not to make any additional funds available.
As a result, KiwiRail cancelled the contracts for the terminals and ferries.
At fault were both KiwiRail, which was overly ambitious with the project and the government, which was not prepared to adequately fund this important national infrastructure.
Visualisation of the new ferries, as published by KiwiRail.
[Feb 2022].
Top Cat was a wave-piercing catamaran that was operated by Top Cat in opposition to the Interislander on Cook Strait.
The company only lasted one season before it went bankrupt.
Here the Top Cat speeds along the Marlborough Sounds.
[Jun 1999].
Strait Shipping, a privately-operated ferry service, started operations between Wellington and Picton in 1992
to compete with The Interislander.
In 2002 it bought the Santa Regina and started passenger services under the brand Bluebridge.
Here the Santa Regina is underway in Wellington Harbour. [Nov 2008]
Initially Strait Shipping concentrated on transporting animals between the North and South Islands.
By now, it is a major ferry operator for all sorts of vehicles and also passengers.
The Santa Regina in Wellington Harbour. [Nov 2008]
In contrast to the Interislander, the Bluebridge ferry terminal in Wellington is right near the centre of the city,
right opposite the Wellington Railway Station.
The Santa Regina has just left the Wellington terminal. [Jan 2004]
The Santa Regina arrives in Picton on a rainy winter evening. [Jul 2008]
On the Santa Regina passengers can go on the deck forward of the bridge and enjoy the voyage.
While Cook Strait is often very windy and rough, in the Marlborough Sounds it is often pleasant on deck. [Jan 2009]
While The Interislander has recently pursued a policy of chartering ships,
Strait Shipping has always purchased the ships it operates.
The Santa Regina meets the Kaitaki in Wellington Harbour. [Jan 2009]
The Santa Regina underway Wellington Harbour. [Jan 2009]
The Santa Regina reverses into its berth in Wellington.
The red building on the left is Wellington Railway Station.
Several large office blocks have also been built in the area. [Jan 2009]
The Santa Regina alongside the Kent, another ship operated by Strait Shipping. [Jan 2009]
The Santa Regina has departed Wellington on its way to Picton and is underway in Wellington Harbour.
It passes Miramar Peninsula. [Apr 2009]
The Santa Regina has entered Wellington Harbour on its voyage from Picton. [Apr 2010]
This is the view from the bow of the Santa Regina forward.
The ferry is travelling through the Marlborough Sounds on a pleasant evening. [Nov 2009]
In the hold of the Santa Regina with a view of the many vehicles,
especially our old red temporary set of wheels. [Jul 2013]
The Santa Regina was in service until June 2015,
when Strait Shipping replaced it with the Strait Feronia.
Here the ship is at its berth in Picton. [Mar 2013]
From 2006 to 2010 Strait Shipping operated the Monte Stello.
Here it travels in Wellington Harbour, while the Tasman Pathfinder is leaving for Timaru. [Sep 2008]
The Monte Stello is a sister ship of the Santa Regina.
However, it was several years older and in a worse condition. [Sep 2008]
In the foreground is the Wellington stadium, also called The Cake Tin.
In the background the Monte Stello approaches the ferry terminal in Wellington. [Sep 2008]
The Monte Stello underway in Wellington Harbour.
The ship was replaced with the Straitsman in 2010. [Sep 2008]
The Monte Stello and the Arahura travel across the Wellington Harbour,
as they approach the respective terminals in Wellington.
[Mar 2009]
From 2001 to 2010 Strait Shipping operated the Kent for freight only.
Here, the Kent is underway in Wellington Harbour. [Jan 2009]
The Kent not only travelled between Wellington and Picton,
but also provided weekly services between Wellington and Nelson.
The Kent is reversing aft into its berth in Wellington.
In the background the Wellington Railway Station is prominent. [Jan 2009]
The Kent is landing in Wellington.
The office building in the background was built for the Bank of New Zealand. [Jan 2009]
When the Straitsman was taken into service in 2010,
Strait Shipping had sufficient freight capacity on its passenger ferries to no longer require
the freight-only Kent.
The service to Nelson was no longer provided.
Instead more container ships provide connections from Nelson to Tauranga and Christchurch.
Here the Kent travels in Wellington Harbour. [Feb 2009]
Strait Shipping put the Straitsman into service in 2010.
It previously operated in Denmark and was renamed in honour of the
first ship to operate for Strait Shipping.
The first Straitsman operated on Cook Strait from 1992 to 2004.
The new Straitsman in the middle of Cook Strait on a foggy day. [Mar 2013]
The Straitsman was built in 2005 by Volharding Shipyards, Netherlands.
The ship operated as the Dueodde in Denmark with Bornholmertrafikken between 2005 and 2010,
before coming to New Zealand.
[Mar 2013].
The Straitsman also has cabins, so that Bluebridge now also offers a sleeper service overnight.
The voyage is a bit short to have a good sleep, however.
[Jan 2020].
The Straitsman is a relatively short ship.
She is 124.9 m in length and 23.4m in width.
[Jan 2020].
The Straitsman travels through Queen Charlotte Sound,
which here is lined by regenerating bush.
[Jan 2020].
The Straitsman has capacity for 40 trucks, 120 other vehicles, and up to 350 passengers
(plus crew and truck drivers).
The ferry is shown approaching Picton in the Marlborough Sounds.
[Jan 2020].
The Straitsman turns to berth in Picton.
Tourist launches and sailing boats mix here with the ferries.
The vessel was sold in March 2023 and left New Zealand in April 2023.
It has been renamed Condor Islander to travel between the Channel Islands and Britain as well as France.
It is partly owned by Guernsey interests.
[Jan 2020].
Even though it is a rainy summer's day, a few people swim at the beach in Picton
as the Straitsman arrives at the seaside town.
[Jan 2020].
In 2015, Strait Shipping bought a new ferry to replace the Santa Regina.
Previously named Stena Feronia, the ship was renamed Strait Feronia,
recognising its past heritage and its future with Strait Shipping.
[Jan 2020].
The Strait Feronia was built in 1997 by Cantiere Navale Visentini, Italy.
She was first named Mersey Viking, was then renamed several times
and then received the name Stena Feronia in 2011.
The Strait Feronia is berthed in Picton along the InterIslander ferry Kaitaki.
[Jan 2020].
With a length of 186.0m the Strait Feronia is considerably longer than the Straitsman.
She is 25.6m wide and has capacity for 60 trucks, 140 other vehicles, and 350 passengers (plus crew and truck drivers).
The Strait Feronia departs into the rainy Marlborough Sounds.
[Jan 2020].
The Strait Feronia moves into her berth at Picton.
[Jan 2020].
The Strait Feronia heads towards Picton passing the Aratere,
which is heading towards Wellington.
[Jan 2020].
The Strait Feronia turns as she arrives in Picton.
[Jan 2020].
In January 2023 the vessel Connemara arrived in Wellington to join the Bluebridge fleet.
Initially, the ship took over the duties of the Strait Feronia, while that ship was in drydock.
Later, it replaced the Straitsman, which was sold to European interests.
The Connemara in Wellington Harbour.
[Oct 2023].
The Connemara has considerably more capacity than the Straitsman had.
It has more lande metres than the Strait Feronia, and can carry up to 500 passengers.
With a length of 186.5 m and a width of 25.6 m the Connemara has similar dimensions to the Strait Feronia.
[Oct 2023].
The Connemara was built in 2007 by Cantiere Navale Visentini, Italy.
She was initially launched as the Borja, serving between Barcelona and Palma.
The ferry changed hands, routes and names several times.
In 2018 she was renamed Connemara and worked between Cork, Ireland and Santander, Spain.
She also served the route between Cork and Roscoff, France.
The name Connemara refers to the a hilly region in western Ireland.
Strait Shipping purchased the vessel in December 2022.
The name Connemara was retained.
Over the years Strait Shipping has often kept the name of vessels that came from other parts of the world.
[Oct 2023].
For many years the main service across the Cook Strait operated from Wellington to Lyttelton.
Pacifica Shipping took over this service.
The Spirit of Competition operated on the service between Wellington and Lyttelton
from 1985 to 2008.
Here it is at Wellington. [Jan 2009]
After 2008, when the Spirit of Competition was taken out of service,
Pacifica Shipping now longer operated a service between Wellington and Lyttelton,
concentrating on its national container service instead.
Here the Spirit of Competition is in the port of Wellington,
alongside the Monte Stello and the Kent from Strait Shipping. [Nov 2008]