Tourism: New Zealand: Mission from Mac

According to New Zealand news magazine Newshub, the scale of the task is “strategic analysis” The public railway operator has entrusted it to the US strategic consulting giant A. “surprised” Finance Minister Nicola Willis.

Although she did not confirm the exact amount of the intervention, she announced that “Inform the Chairman” From the public corporation. The latter, David McLean, tendered his resignation, effective July 31. His term was due to end October 31. He joined KiwiRail in 2021. According to the New Zealand Finance Minister, other KiwiRail executives “They could lose their jobs.”.

KiwiRail is the country's largest rail operator, and also has a dedicated ferry business through its subsidiary Interislander. This ferry service crosses the Cook Strait. Interislander was originally owned by Toll Rail (trains and ferries), which was bought by the New Zealand Government in 2008.

As the Interislander fleet aged, the previous New Zealand Labour government decided to replace it with a new terminal and major investment. Following the general election and the appointment of a new government in November 2023 (as part of a coalition between the New Zealand National Party, the Australian Capital Party and New Zealand First), the new Finance Minister, Nicola Willis, refused to grant an additional budget of $1.5 billion to KiwiRail for the major Interislander modernisation and restructuring project.

Beyond the Interislander, KiwiRail has faced a series of difficulties described in New Zealand as: “Kiwi failure”. If the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, said the privatisation of the public rail operator – or the splitting of the Interislander – was not the case. “Priority” He also confirmed that he wants KiwiRail. “To become a successful company”.