Kaiārahi Steering Fault Delays Cook Strait Ferries
Cook Strait ferry disruption is spilling into weekend plans for travelers transiting between Wellington, New Zealand, and Picton, New Zealand, after Interislander's Kaiārahi suffered a steering problem mid crossing on December 12, 2025. Foot passengers, drivers, campervan renters, and anyone with timed connections to Marlborough, Nelson, Kaikōura, or Christchurch are most exposed, because even one canceled sailing can quickly consume remaining vehicle space. Travelers should assume rebooking queues, tighter capacity, and late arrival risk, then add buffer, protect hotel check in plans, and secure alternate crossings early if their schedule is fixed.
The Cook Strait ferry disruption matters because the Wellington to Picton link is not just a crossing, it is the hinge that most self drive itineraries rely on when moving between islands.
RNZ reported that Kaiārahi experienced steering problems during its 330 p.m. voyage from Wellington toward Picton, and the vessel returned to Wellington as a precaution, docking at 1005 p.m. local time. A passenger told RNZ they were rebooked via text onto a Saturday morning sailing, and other passengers booked new sailings with Bluebridge while still on board, a sign that travelers should expect tight availability and high call center demand until the schedule normalizes. RNZ also quoted Wellington Harbourmaster Grant Nalder saying the crew still had full control of the wheel, and Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy saying the issue was identified during standard procedures before entering Tory Channel, and the return to Wellington was a safety precaution.
What Is Known About Sailings, And What To Watch Next
Interislander does not publish a single consolidated disruption list on its timetable page, but its summer schedule shows how quickly one fault can cascade. Interislander's current timetable lists four daily Wellington to Picton sailings, including the 3:30 p.m. Kaiārahi departure, plus multiple Picton to Wellington departures that also use Kaiārahi. When one ship is pulled for engineering checks or repositioning, the most common traveler pain points are (1) the next departure departing late while passenger and vehicle loads are reshuffled, and (2) an apparent rebook that still leaves you in a long terminal queue if the new sailing is close to sold out.
For the next 24 to 48 hours, the practical question is not only whether the affected ship returns to service, it is whether the operator can protect vehicle capacity across the next cycle of departures. If you are traveling as a foot passenger, you may have more flexibility to switch sailings. If you are traveling with a car, a campervan, or a trailer, availability is usually the limiting factor, and the earlier you secure a confirmed rebook, the better.
Background
Cook Strait ferries are a duopoly. KiwiRail's Interislander operates the core Wellington to Picton route, and Bluebridge runs a parallel service on the same corridor. Because the crossing is about three and a half hours in normal conditions, many travelers schedule it like a flight, meaning a single late arrival can ripple into same day rental pickup cutoffs, long drives that push past daylight, and hotel check in deadlines in smaller South Island towns.
Rebooking, Refunds, And Compensation Basics
Interislander's fare rules matter in a disruption, because not all tickets carry the same flexibility. Interislander's Saver and Flexible fares allow changes up to one hour before departure, but do not include voluntary refunds, while Refundable fares allow cancellation or changes up to one hour prior, with a refund less card fees.
If your sailing is canceled or delayed, Interislander says it will make "all reasonable efforts" to accommodate passengers on the next available sailing. Interislander also explicitly notes that travelers may have rights under New Zealand consumer laws, and that when a delay or cancellation is within Interislander's control, options can include rebooking, a refund, and compensation for some reasonably foreseeable costs, with mechanical issues listed as an example of an within control cause. If you are incurring extra lodging, meals, or alternate transport costs, keep receipts and request guidance through Interislander's stated contact channels rather than assuming the claim will be automatic.
Alternatives That Actually Work
Bluebridge is the main same corridor alternative, and it can be the fastest way to salvage a fixed plan when Interislander capacity tightens. Bluebridge publishes a summer timetable valid through April 30, 2026, with multiple daily departures in both directions, although some night sailings have restrictions or limited vehicle availability. The catch is that switching operators late can be easy for a single foot passenger, and hard for a family with a long vehicle booking, especially during peak weeks.
Flight substitution can be realistic for foot passengers or for groups willing to split the problem. One common workaround is flying from Wellington International Airport (WLG) to Marlborough Airport (BHE) near Blenheim, New Zealand, or to Nelson Airport (NSN), then using a local car hire or shuttle to reach Picton and the Marlborough Sounds area. For drivers already committed to a vehicle booking, that is usually a last resort, because it can strand a car on the wrong island, and create one way rental penalties, or relocation fees for campervans.
What To Do If You Travel In The Next Two Days
Travelers should treat this as a capacity and communication problem, not just a late departure problem. Confirm your status through Manage My Booking, watch for updated texts and emails, and do not rely on the assumption that a rebooked sailing will have short terminal lines. Interislander's published timetable also notes 60 minute final check in times for both vehicles and foot passengers, and a Wellington Railway Station shuttle that departs 70 minutes before each sailing, which is helpful if downtown traffic or parking becomes a bottleneck.
If your plan includes a rental pickup, a campervan handover, a paid excursion, or a same day check in in the South Island, contact providers now and document your updated ETA. The cheapest fix is usually a proactive adjustment, a late check in note on the booking, a moved pickup window, or a refundable activity rebook, rather than trying to negotiate after a missed cutoff.
For additional New Zealand transport planning context, see Adept Traveler's coverage of the Auckland Summer Rail Shutdown Cuts City Train Options, plus recent network brittleness in Australia And New Zealand Flight Delays After A320 Recall and the broader buffering guidance in Australia New Zealand Flight Delays From Weather.