NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Picton celebrates ferry decision

Teuila Fuatai
By Teuila Fuatai
NZ Herald·
14 Nov, 2013 05:44 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

File photo / Simon Baker

File photo / Simon Baker

A decision to keep the South Island ferry terminal base in Picton - dashing hopes for a reduced travelling time between the North and South islands - has been met with celebration in the Marlborough town.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee announced the news today after a year-long Transport Ministry investigation found the construction of a privately-funded Clifford Bay terminal, 35km south of Blenheim, would not be viable.

While the Transport Ministry investigation estimated the travel time between Wellington and Christchurch for road-ferry travellers would have reduced by almost an hour and a half, and nearly two hours for rail passengers, Picton locals said the possible effects of losing tourist business from docking ferries would be devastating.

Marlborough mayor Alistair Sowman said today's decision had been greeted with "relief" by Picton residents.

"We've been waiting for this for a number of years, and really it's paralysed a town that couldn't move forward."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Nobody could invest money in Picton [and] nobody could sell their businesses, because you just don't know what the future would hold."

According to Destination Marlborough, 1.2 million tourists travelled to Picton on the ferry each year, he said.

The proposed ferry terminal shift would have affected more than 100 families who rely on business from ferry tourists, he said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Transport Ministry investigation report estimated a terminal at Clifford Bay could have been delivered by 2022 at a cost of $525 million - but the Government would have been required to fill a funding shortfall for private investors to proceed with the project.

Mr Brownlee cited this cost, as well as the risks associated with a Clifford Bay terminal and "the lack of a compelling constraint at Picton" for not proceeding with the Clifford Bay Terminal.

Marlborough Chamber of Commerce said there had been "mixed feelings" about the proposal in the local community, but the decision had provided certainty for businesses.

While many feared a shift to Clifford Bay would result in a downturn due to lower visitor numbers, some businesses had seen it as an opportunity to develop Picton into a more "tourist destination" town, similar to Queenstown or Rotorua, chamber president Nicky de Reeper said.

Discover more

New Zealand|politics

Ferry site cost doubles to $400m

01 Nov 04:30 PM
New Zealand

Interislander ferry out of service again

23 Jan 12:33 AM
New Zealand

Iconic Interislander scenery may change

15 Mar 04:30 PM
New Zealand

Bookings for Interislander stopped

07 Nov 05:11 AM

"But, that is something that is still in the pipeline."

KiwiRail, which owns the Interislander ferry service, was pleased a decision had been reached.

Chief executive Jim Quinn said there had been pros and cons to the proposed shift, and the company was now able to plan around Picton continuing as the ferry base.

"If it was to [move to] Clifford Bay, there would have been a shorter journey time, it would have cost less fuel among the ships in a different way [but] inevitably there would have been a big investment required and it would have created some new costs in a different way."

Strait Shipping, which operates the Bluebridge passenger ferry, said development plans in Picton - which had been on hold due to the proposal - could now proceed.

You'll be cruising on the Interislander - and still stopping off at Picton.  Photo / Mark Mitchell
You'll be cruising on the Interislander - and still stopping off at Picton. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Marlborough tourist operators:

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

* Sounds Connection co-owner Mark Baxter

Supports the terminal staying in Picton. "It provides certainty for the future. It is the outcome we wanted."

* Boating Marlborough co-owner Stuart Scaife

Happy a decision had been made. "It means that there's some sort of degree of non-change in that respect. I think it's good news."

*Wilderness Guides' co-owner Juliet Gibbons

Supports the decision, and said it was a great opportunity for Picton to develop as a tourist destination.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It's a good think for our business, for Picton and the wider community. We have a massive market that travels on the ferry every year, but also we have Picton developing as a destination."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Multiple fire trucks called to blaze in Auckland CBD

01 Jul 09:43 AM
New Zealand

Man charged in fatal South Auckland crash, further charges possible

01 Jul 08:10 AM
Politics

'Until we meet again': Hundreds gather in Taihape to mourn 'peaceful leader'

01 Jul 08:00 AM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Multiple fire trucks called to blaze in Auckland CBD

Multiple fire trucks called to blaze in Auckland CBD

01 Jul 09:43 AM

Fire and Emergency said crews were called to the incident just after 8.15pm.

Man charged in fatal South Auckland crash, further charges possible

Man charged in fatal South Auckland crash, further charges possible

01 Jul 08:10 AM
'Until we meet again': Hundreds gather in Taihape to mourn 'peaceful leader'

'Until we meet again': Hundreds gather in Taihape to mourn 'peaceful leader'

01 Jul 08:00 AM
'I am scared of drug money': Money launderer's staff complained cash was wet, sticky

'I am scared of drug money': Money launderer's staff complained cash was wet, sticky

01 Jul 08:00 AM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP