KiwiRail charged after Aratere grounding

Wednesday, 18 June 2025

KiwiRail could be fined up to $2 million after Maritime NZ filed two charges following the grounding of its Interislander Aratere ferry almost exactly a year ago.

Maritime NZ on Wednesday confirmed it had laid the two charges. One was that it failed to ensure the safety of passengers and crew, as far as practicable and exposed them to risk of death or injury. The maximum fine is $1.5m.

The second charge is similar and had a $500,000 maximum fine.

“This was a complex incident and important investigation given it focussed on KiwiRail bringing in new systems to older vessels and broader safety management,” said Maritime NZ chief executive Kirstie Hewlett in a statement.

The Post last year revealed that a new autopilot system was part of the reason for the grounding, on June 21, with crew not knowing how to disengage it, and steer it away from shore, until it was too late.

“[The investigation] required us to look at systems, policies and procedures, culture, within KiwiRail in relation to the incident,” Hewlett said.

“A significant number of interviews were conducted, as well as collating and reviewing a substantial amount of relevant documentation and evidence.”

Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy would not comment on the charges with the matter before the courts but said KiwiRail had made changes to avoid a future similar incident.

Its internal investigation came out with nine recommended changes. Of those, seven had been done.

“Since returning to sailing after the incident, Aratere has made more than 1100 crossings of Cook Strait, carrying over 133,000 passengers and 64,000 private and commercial vehicles. For the financial year to date Aratere’s reliability is at 98%.”

The Aratere broke down earlier in June soon after leaving Picton.