On a sparkling autumn day …

Recently I took the opportunity to explore the Waitematā Harbour on the newest of our ferry services – the new weekend service to Hobsonville Point.

The service has been introduced with the support of Homes, Lands and Communities (HLC), led by Chris Aiken, which is doing a great job building a new community at Hobsonville Point.  The approach, where HLC have coordinated funding support from various development and community partners, really should be applauded. It makes the introduction of new services to local communities more financially feasible.

It was a great day and if you’re looking for something to do over a weekend, the ferry service is a great option. There is a lot going on at Hobsonville Point with great walkways, restaurants and the farmers market, not to mention the parks and playgrounds.

The trip reminded me that we are truly fortunate to have two different but very special harbours in this part of the world, Sydney and Auckland, with really good ferry services.

Like Sydney, the ferry services in Auckland not only appeal to our customers travelling to and from work but, also at weekends for leisure.

Auckland really is a harbour city and its ferry services help people to get around in a direct and memorable way. There is growing urgency to make better use of these services. It could unlock new opportunities for growth, to create a more accessible Auckland, to celebrate the rich natural amenity and cultural value of our waters, and to restore ecosystems and mauri to the harbour. 

It's the shores of Auckland and its islands, the harbour communities of the Waitematā, Hauraki Gulf and the shallow waters of Manukau that makes our region special. Our coastal and marine history is rich.

Over the next ten years we will be increasing our focus on ferries. An enhanced and expanded ferry network can help relieve congestion on motorways and arterial roads. This is achieved through providing an alternative to the car, offering shorter travel times and increasing the capacity of the existing public transport networks. Alongside this, increasing the frequency, span and capacity of existing ferry services is vital. Currently some of Auckland’s ferry routes are not meeting existing demand, with some passengers being left behind.

Our vision for ferries in Auckland is that they will support the celebration of region’s iconic harbours. But more than that they help build the efficiency, effectiveness, and resiliency of Auckland’s transport network, offering an unmissable and fundamental mode of transport for commuters, locals and tourists alike.

Ongoing employment and population growth in Auckland is increasing travel demand between the city centre, larger metropolitan areas and coastal suburbs. Ferry services have an important role to play in meeting this demand and improving the efficiency, reliability and resilience of Auckland’s transport network.

We are already taking steps to make this vision become a reality. We have embarked on the $73.5 million upgrade of the Downtown Ferry Basin and Ferry Terminal with funding support from Auckland Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency and recently completed upgrades at key terminals such as Half Moon Bay.   While more funding will be required for vessels (including electric ferries) and services long term, finding that additional funding is merely a matter of when, rather than if. 

The opportunity of making better use of the Waitematā and potentially the Manukau Harbour in a sustainable way is just way too good to be ignored.