New Cook Strait Interislander ferries contract signed, Winston Peters touts $2.3b savings

New Cook Strait ferries contract signed: two rail-enabled, hybrid vessels to cost $596m with $1.27b infrastructure, total under $1.7b. Taxpayer savings of $2.3b after cancelling the $4b iReX project. Ships due by 2029; build at Guangzhou Shipyard, start in 2027.