WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Severe weather conditions during New Zealand’s peak summer vacation season have led to significant travel disruptions for numerous passengers traveling on ferries that operate between the country’s two main islands.
The intense swells and high winds in the often-turbulent Cook Strait, which separates the North Island from the South Island, have contributed to previously predictable travel chaos. Breakdowns related to the aging fleet of ferries have compounded the delays affecting travelers.
Unlike countries such as Britain and Japan, New Zealand has yet to entertain the feasibility of constructing an undersea tunnel beneath this body of water, despite the fact that over one million individuals traverse it by sea annually. While opinions on the subject abound among Kiwis, the last instance of a prime minister advocating for such an undertaking dates back to 1904.
Creating a tunnel or a bridge across the approximately 25-30 kilometers (15-18 miles) of volatile water seems improbable, primarily due to the challenges associated with navigating New Zealand’s rugged and often hazardous landscape, as noted by industry experts.
What makes the tunnel option impractical?
A potential Cook Strait tunnel would significantly cut down the sailing time—from three to four hours—to allow for quick travel between the North Island, home to 75% of the nation’s population, and the South Island. “However, off the top of my head, constructing such a tunnel would consume about 20 years’ worth of New Zealand’s entire transport infrastructure development budget in just one project,” remarked Nicolas Reid, a transport planner affiliated with MRCagney.
He estimated the tunnel’s cost to be around 50 billion New Zealand dollars (approximately $28 billion), a figure comparable to the undersea tunnel connecting Britain and mainland Europe by rail. While New Zealand shares a similar land area with the United Kingdom, its population is significantly smaller at about 5 million, compared to the U.K.’s 69 million, which is over 13 times larger.
Comparatively, Japan—also comparable in size—boasts a population of 124 million and showcases the Seikan undersea rail tunnel linking its major islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. Reid went on to emphasize, “There is a substantial infrastructure burden if we seek connections across the country, particularly given our relatively small populace.”
Additionally, the unpredictable geological conditions in the area pose another significant concern. The Cook Strait lies at the convergence of tectonic plates, leading to faults beneath both islands and occasional seismic activity in the strait itself, according to seismologist John Risteau from GNS.
Unpredictable journeys due to varying tides and winds
After experiencing two days of hazardous wave conditions, ferry operations in the Cook Strait resumed on Tuesday. However, the backlog of passengers meant lengthy waiting times, with some travelers reporting that they could not secure a new booking for two weeks.
The Cook Strait is known for its unsteady conditions, influenced by opposing tidal flows at each end—where it meets both the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. “In this area, we consistently observe dominant winds streaming through the strait, either northerlies or southerlies, which tend to be more vigorous,” explained Gerard Bellam, a forecaster with MetService. He reported that swells had reached heights of 9 meters (30 feet) this past week.
Julia Rufey, a tourist from England, sitting at the Wellington terminal, mentioned having previously taken flights between the two islands. However, this time she opted for the ferry due to the sense of adventure. “We decided to come to Wellington and try the ferry, which is already 3 1/2 hours late,” she noted.
No clear path in sight for aging ferries
The ferries themselves, many of which are over 20 years old and more than half owned by the state, have long been a contentious topic in politics. The current government opted not to pursue the previous administration’s decision to replace the aging fleet before their projected retirement in 2029 due to the substantial costs involved. Opposition parties have criticized the government for providing only partial details about their new ferry replacement plans unveiled in December and for not disclosing the associated costs.
Despite the delays experienced on Tuesday, some passengers expressed their preference for taking the ferry over other modes of transportation. Laurie Perino, an Australian tourist, shared that the picturesque ocean views were the deciding factor for her booking. “While a tunnel would be more convenient, I believe many people would still be keen to experience traveling on the ferry,” she stated.
