The 12,700-gt ferry (built 1983) will be replaced by the 22,000–gt Stena Alegra (built 1998), which was brought in this year as a temporary substitute while the 12,600-gt sistership Aratere (built 1998) was being repaired.
The New Zealand Herald reported that the estimated NZD 25m ($19.2m) cost of required upgrades made Arahura unsustainable.
It was also deemed unable to meet future freight demand.
“The
