Part-Privatisation Isn’t Enough: Government Must Offload the Ferry Mess Entirely

The Taxpayers’ Union welcomes the Government’s openness to part-privatising the Interislander ferry service, but says it doesn’t go far enough to reduce the burden on taxpayers or help address New Zealand’s growing public debt.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“The Interislander project has become an expensive fiasco. Costs have ballooned, no ferries have been delivered, and taxpayers are left footing the bill. People are rightly asking: how much more will they be forced to pay before the Government seriously considers alternatives?”

“The whole project should be sold, to prevent another disaster like the scrapped iRex project. Private sector investment would not only inject much-needed capital but also impose commercial discipline. These are multi-billion-dollar decisions – they should be made by commercial operators who have skin in the game, not government officials.”

“With total Crown debt now exceeding $277 billion, New Zealand simply cannot afford to keep borrowing to fund every vanity project. Continuing to do so means higher interest payments, more pressure on public services, and higher taxes down the line.”

“Exploring private sector involvement is a welcome step, but it’s only a first step. To protect taxpayers and restore fiscal responsibility, the Government needs to go further, and fast.”