Auckland's Northcote Point ferry services resume after two and a half year wharf closure

Wednesday, 3 February 2021

Ferry services from Te Onewa Northcote Point Wharf relaunched in February 2021, two and a half years after the wharf was closed for health and safety reasons.

Ferry services from Auckland’s Northcote Point are relaunching, more than two and a half years after the wharf was closed for an upgrade.

The 60-year-old Northcote Point wharf was temporarily closed for health and safety reasons in June 2018 after routine maintenance revealed wooden structural pieces of the wharf had deteriorated.

But by the time 2020 rolled around, work had yet to commence due to rising design costs, requiring approval for additional funding.

The wharf was due to reopen on January 25 – a year later than originally planned – but its reopening ceremony was postponed due to the new Covid case in Northland.

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Ferry services to Birkenhead and the CBD were suspended after structural deterioration to the Northcote Point Wharf was detected in June 2018.

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Ferry services were supposed to resume on January 25, however adverse weather conditions and supplier delays pushed the launch date out further.

* Northcote Point wharf closed for foreseeable future

Auckland Transport's Mark Hannan said at the time the agency was being very cautious about events until more information came to light.

The upgrade to the wharf included improved seating and shelter for ferry patrons.

Ferry sailings were also delayed due to adverse weather and supplier delays.

On Wednesday, Hannan confirmed the wharf would be blessed by Ngāti Whātua at 7.30am on Thursday, with ferry services commencing shortly afterwards.

“The wharf is also being renamed to Te Onewa Northcote Point, making it the first dual-named wharf on Auckland’s ferry network,” Hannan said.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, resource consent for the $2.6 million project to be carried out by specialist marine contractor STF wasn’t granted until June 2020.

Work to provide ferry users with better shelter, security, lighting and new seating was undertaken alongside repairs to the wharf.

Despite work having not started by the initial expected completion date, Auckland Transport insisted the work had “finished on time and under budget at the end of 2020”.

Due to the wharf’s exposed position, ferry services could be delayed or cancelled at times due to weather and sea conditions, Auckland Transport said.

Northcote Point ferry services will run between the CBD’s Downtown Ferry Terminal, Northcote and Birkenhead and back to the city again between 6.25am and 11pm, Monday to Friday, with a less frequent timetable at weekends.

Off-peak services will only go to Northcote on request from passengers, who should alert ferry staff upon boarding.

Those waiting at the wharf should make themselves visible and signal the ferry if they wish to board.