Wellington’s electric ferry service highlights need for universal design in infrastructure
Date published: 9 September 2025
CCS Disability Action welcomes the recent public conversation around accessibility and Wellington’s electric ferry service, following coverage in Stuff featuring disability advocate Blake Forbes and our central region access coordinator, Raewyn Hailes.
While the ferry service is a positive step for sustainable transport, it has highlighted a deeper issue in how large infrastructure projects are approached in Aotearoa New Zealand. The challenge is not a lack of consultation – Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) has strong relationships with the disability community and an Accessibility Charter that guides its work.
The real issue is that universal design is not consistently embedded as a baseline principle across all agencies involved in complex infrastructure projects. In this case, multiple organisations – including Wellington Waterfront Limited, GWRC, Metlink, and East by West Ferries – were involved in delivering the service. Without a shared commitment to universal design from the outset, accessibility risks being treated as an afterthought.
Raewyn Hailes, who was part of an access audit of the ferry service, noted that while the Eastbourne terminal is more accessible, the Wellington terminal presents steep ramps and safety risks for wheelchair users and ferry staff. "We want to see consistent championing of access needs across all agencies involved in infrastructure," she said.
The electric ferries were introduced in 2022 at a cost of $8.5 million. Retrofitting the Wellington waterfront to accommodate tidal changes would now require significant investment. This underscores the importance of embedding universal design principles early – not only to ensure safety and inclusion, but to avoid costly retrofits.
Importantly, New Zealand’s current legislation does not require or strongly support universal design. This leaves too much room for interpretation and inconsistency across agencies and projects. Until universal design is embedded in our national infrastructure strategy and regulatory frameworks, we risk repeating these same accessibility gaps.
CCS Disability Action believes that when universal design is part of the strategy from start to finish, the results are better for everyone. We remain committed to working constructively with councils, transport providers, and designers to ensure public spaces and services reflect the full diversity of our communities.
Learn more about our Access Advisory Services and how we support inclusive design across Aotearoa.
Read the original article on Stuff: Hundreds use ferry to visit coastal suburb - here’s why Blake Forbes can’t