The Interislander ferry only recently underwent wet dock maintenance, which included the replacement of its steering system.

The government was "highly unimpressed" with KiwiRail's ferry maintenance standards, Simeon Brown said earlier this week.

Tugboats will attempt to refloat the Aratere after an Interislander ferry ran aground in New Zealand's Marlborough Sounds.

People have been turning out in Picton to get a glimpse of the stranded Aratere, which is visible from parts of the seaside town.

Ferry operator Interislander says the Aratere will be brought back into port on Sunday while an investigation into the stranding continues. The...

The Aratere grounding shows the fragility of the link between the North and South islands, Transporting NZ says.

Interislander says the ferry Aratere will be brought back into port today while an investigation into the stranding continues.

One of the KiwiRail shareholding ministers says there are good reasons for the InterIslander ferry service to stay in government hands.

The government has said the timing is not related to the recent grounding of the state-owned enterprise's ferry Aratere.

The Aratere is back on the water after a night-time refloating operation.