Whanganui - Motueka freight ferry service proposed

September 27th, 2016

Artist's impression of the ferry at Whanganui terminal, as produced for the Wanganui Chronicle

A bold plan to start up a ferry service between Whanganui and Motueka could make make major savings in both time and money for those needing an inter-island link.

Whanganui businessman Neville Johnson set up Midwest Ferries in October 2010, and has been investigating a roll-on, roll-off ferry service for the past six years.

As reported in the Wanganui Chronicle this week, he says recent discussions with major industries shifting freight between both islands had confirmed for him that a service was viable.

Neville spoke to the Motueka Community Board earlier this year about his plans, but at the time asked the two media reporters present not to report it until he had some loose ends to tie up.

At the time, members of the Community Board expressed interest and enthusiasm for the proposal as a way of using the port asset to earn the town money. As reported in the Chronical, Neville reckons a start-up fund of $50 million would make it happen. That would cover the dredging, land reclamation, vessel leasing, infrastructure, costs of employing 20 shore staff and administration costs.

Moving inter-island freight is an expensive business but he says his investigations show that a Whanganui-Motueka link would cut hours off trucking times which, in turn, meant financial savings for companies.

While the Whanganui ferry link has been flagged before, he has taken a different approach.

"No one had gone to the marketplace - the transport industry especially - to assess their interest in a shipping service through Whanganui to the South Island."

Using the Whanganui District Council-owned port at Castlecliff would not need any ratepayer contribution, he says. In broad terms his idea is to dredge seven metres depth in the port and through the harbour entrance.

The southern terminal would be through Motueka's waterfront, and the same issues would need to be overcome there - creating a serviceable depth in that port and reclaiming much needed land behind the wharf to handle the vehicles coming on and off the ferry.

He says a Whanganui-Motueka ferry would work because it cuts hours of travel time for transport companies.

"We're looking at a ferry 135 metres and drawing about 5.5 metres. You'd get a maximum of 40 truck and trailer units on a vessel that big."

But it's not just trucks. Midwest Ferries would target campervans, cars and passenger fares. "We reckon 28,000 crossings a year makes it viable. A crossing in this instance is one vehicle going one way."

A Whanganui-Motueka link cuts four hours off travel time for trucks going from Auckland to Christchurch, over Cook Strait through Wellington and Picton.

Neville has had several discussions with the Talley's about using Motueka. "Just like our plans for Whanganui, we'll do the dredging and reclaim the land at no charge. Because we have to create our own facility to berth the ferry then the deal is we don't pay berthage."

Comment by Fiona Gilliver:
[Posted 27 September 2016]

This is a really interesting idea, although there would be environmental and roading challenges. There does need to be another Cook Strait crossing and it would get trucks off SH1 especially between Picton and Christchurch.

Comment by Stuart Green:
[Posted 27 September 2016]

It will never get off the ground due to Motueka not having a suitable site for a Terminal, maybe to Nelson.
[Editor's comment: The presentation I saw on this showed that this (the proposed Mot terminal) had been well researched. Nelson wanted to charge way too much.]

Comment by Sue Jepson:
[Posted 27 September 2016]

Fantastic - just the spur Motueka needs to make better use of its resources. And he'll do the dredging! What's to stop this happening - not just trucks but helping Motueka as a visitor destination! It would need to be thought through properly to make sure Motueka could cope and really benefit from the influx. But just think, if Neville Johnson is going to pay for the dredging, etc. then that will make Motueka a viable port for other options.

Comment by Renee Kelly:
[Posted 27 September 2016]

Always wondering about what impact this sort of venture would have on our environment and native flora/fauna . . . $$$ aren't everything and without our environment we have nothing for tourists let alone ourselves as residents?

Comment by Dave Macadam:
[Posted 27 September 2016]

Pipe dream. The amount of hurdles this would face is...well lets just say massive amount. Not only from our backwards thinking council, DOC and the tree huggers but youd have to be naive to think Picton and Wellington would just let this happen. Nice idea, but I wont hold my breath.

Comment by Karin Lummis:
[Posted 27 September 2016]

What do people living in Trewavas street think about this idea?

Comment by Johny O'Donnell:
[Posted 27 September 2016]

One of the potential benefits of this project would be developing the marina area to be more "people friendly" which this could be a catalyst for. I'm surprised they've chosen Motueka as the port given the tidal issues but I guess they're elsewhere too. Provided the environment factor can be managed and preserved, it will be a great thing for the town.

Comment by Amberli Hartwell:
[Posted 27 September 2016]

Exciting Mot was chosen for this - I don't think it would be announced if they hadn't done their research - would really help get the area on the map and of course create jobs etc.

Comment by David Armstrong:
[Posted 27 September 2016]

My understanding is that Nelson wanted to charge way too much for berthage, far more than it would cost to regularly dredge the Port Motueka channel. It was certainly investigated and Mot was considered the cheaper option.

Comment by Jason Deer:
[Posted 28 September 2016]

I have had experience in coming into Motueka on a 42 metre vessel and it was fraught with issues like navigating the channel in a very small window of time around high water, the speed of the current and sitting on the bottom at low water. Without some serious dredging of channels etc I cannot see it being viable. The schedules would be dictated by the tides and weather. If you missed a high tide then what everyone just chills on board for 12 hours till the next one. Same if it is to rough to cross the bar into Wanganui. It's a nice thought but face it folks if it was a viable option don't you think that it would have been done by now. Over the years several ferry services between Nelson and the north island have been tried and they all failed because they were not economic. How will this be any different??

Comment by Mark Wentworth:
[Posted 2 October 2016]

What a Great Idea with far Reaching Positive Visions for this area, with options of improving our transport access for the region, enhancing employment opportunities in many professions, and accessing our region to the North island.

Now let's see the knockers banging their drums again, tree huggers and environmentalist in their minorities holding it all back, lets face it, in 40 to 50 years time, much of what the knockers say and do now will have no consequences as the population growth and pressure of the nation will be such that even the now de-funked road from Takaka to the West Coast will be on the cards again (but at a greater cost).

All those greenies do now is hinder the progress and hold the current generation back. If we all had applied back in the 30s what is happening now with resource consents and tree huggers, most of NZ would be locked off from humanity and access. Then we would have suffocated with no where to go or expand.

I'm glad we have lived in the era we have, as the future of our nation needs to be forward progressive thinking, not modern clip board thinking. Bring back the Muldoon era of Big Thinking, we need Ten Major Projects of THINK BIG for NZ, and we have one now for Motueka, we should welcome it with open arms and tidy up the eyesore of the port and make that a focal point with positive vibes and one area the town can be proud of. Which looks like it could cost us little to improve.

Has the guy got another 40million to make a marina as well, we need that as well.

Comment by Sjors Brouwer:
[Posted 2 October 2016]

Pipe dream, maybe. Interesting for jobs, definitely. Motueka needs more opportunities for working-age people to work! But, not mentioned yet: please don't get your hopes up, and also, don't invest any money in it, from Motueka, because as soon as Nelson drops their charges, we are out. We (Motueka) may well be a pawn in a game to get a better deal out of Nelson.

Comment by Scott Clarke:
[Posted 26 October 2016]

The world was built upon the brave who dare to dream and if you build it they will come. Coming from Dunedin where we have a history of defeating negativity to develop unique and exciting new projects against the odds. We in the south know only too well the destructive aspects of bureaucracy and outside influence but anything is possible with the right approach and determination.

Having a holiday home in Motueka and being into boating and the local ecology, I am reasonably familiar with many of the problems that will need to be solved. The fact is Motueka is a sleeping giant in terms of its potential and a project like this would undoubtedly cut the shackles and see development spin offs in many directions. All that needs to be done here is to ensure that the development is responsibly handled so that the natural aspects of the area are well considered and protected.

>> , to be added to the page. [If this link doesn't work, use this form instead]

[ Return ]
[ Other news articles ]

We wish to thank these local community-minded businesses who generously sponsor our site. They recognise the value of supporting this community asset, and in return Motueka Online is pleased to use and recommend their services whenever appropriate.

Ray White Motueka, Nelson Building Society, House of Travel,
, Steph Wills Dental Surgery, Unichem Pharmacy