Editing Cook Strait (section)

==Transport==
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|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUWascqCBe0&ab_channel=vert999 Ship entering a Cook Strait swell] {{align|right|– ''YouTube''}}
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[[File:Ferries 2016.jpg|thumb|Cook Strait ferries in Wellington Harbour]]
=== Ferry services ===
{{see also|Transport in New Zealand#Ferry services|Marlborough Sounds#Ferries and marine farms}}
Regular [[ferry]] services run between [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]] in the Marlborough Sounds and [[Wellington]], operated by [[KiwiRail]] (the [[Interislander]]) and [[StraitNZ]] (Bluebridge). Both companies run services several times a day. Roughly half the crossing is in the strait, and the remainder within the Sounds. The journey covers {{convert|70|km|mi}} and takes about three hours. The strait often experiences rough water and heavy swells from strong winds, especially from the south. New Zealand's position directly athwart the [[Roaring Forties|roaring forties]] means that the strait funnels westerly winds and deflects them into northerlies. As a result, ferry sailings are often disrupted and Cook Strait is regarded as one of the most dangerous and unpredictable waters in the world.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} In 1962 the first ferry service to allow railway carriages, cars and trucks began with [[GMV Aramoana|GMV ''Aramoana'']].<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 June 2024 |title=A brief timeline of Cook Strait ferries |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/25-06-2024/a-brief-timeline-of-cook-strait-ferries |access-date=28 January 2025 |work=[[The Spinoff]]}}</ref> In 1994 the first fast-ferry service began operation across Cook Strait.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

=== Shipwrecks and major events ===
{{Category see also|Shipwrecks of the Cook Strait}}
In 1851 the barque [[Maria (1836 ship)|''Maria'']] wrecked on rocks at [[Cape Terawhiti]], killing 28 people.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} In 1865 the paddle steamer [[City of Dunedin (ship)|''City of Dunedin'']] sank, killing 50 to 60 people.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} In 1869 ''St Vincent'' wrecked in [[Palliser Bay]], killing 20 people.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} In 1884 ''Lastingham'' was wrecked at [[Cape Jackson, New Zealand|Cape Jackson]], killing 18 people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Oliver |date=1 September 2017 |title=Add them to the list: Underwater survey discovers new wrecks in Marlborough Sounds |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/96315270/add-them-to-the-list-underwater-survey-discovers-new-wrecks-in-marlborough-sounds |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} In 1909 {{SS|Penguin}} wrecked in Cook Strait, killing 75 people.<ref name="SSPenguin" /> In 1968, the {{ship|TEV|Wahine}}, a Wellington–[[Lyttelton, New Zealand|Lyttelton]] ferry of the [[Union Company]], foundered at the entrance to [[Wellington Harbour]] and capsized. Of the 610 passengers and 123 crew on board, 53 died.<ref>Initially the official toll was 51, but two names were added 22 and 40 years later respectively. {{cite news |last=Williamson |first=Kerry |date=9 April 2008 |title=Recognition 53rd Wahine victim |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4470696a11.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911172910/http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4470696a11.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 September 2012 |access-date=10 April 2008 |work=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]]}}</ref> On 16 February 1986 the cruise ship ''[[MS Mikhail Lermontov|Mikhail Lermontov]]'' struck rocks at Cape Jackson at the northern tip of the Marlborough Sounds and sank in Port Gore, with one person killed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hill |first=Ruth |date=16 February 2006 |title=Lermontov sinking still lures conspiracy buffs |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/lermontov-sinking-still-lures-conspiracy-buffs/RWL76ZT5ZHC67NDRYEPUBP7UAA/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |agency=NZPA}}</ref> 

In 2006, {{convert|14|m|adj=on}} waves resulted in the [[Interislander]] ferry [[DEV Aratere]] slewing violently and heeling to 50 degrees. Three passengers and a crew member were injured, five rail wagons were toppled and many trucks and cars were heavily damaged. Maritime NZ's expert witness Gordon Wood claimed that if the ferry had capsized most passengers and crew would have been trapped inside and would have had no warning or time to put on lifejackets.<ref>[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10387818 Cook Strait ferry Aratere 'nearly capsized']. ''NZ Herald'', 22 June 2006.</ref><ref>[http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/14450/New-rules-for-ferries-after-horror-crossing New rules for ferries after horror crossing]. ''Stuff'', 31 January 2009.</ref>

In 1990 Stephen Preest made the first crossing and double crossing by hovercraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Airflow Hovercraft |url=http://hovercrafts.co.nz/en/airflow-hovercraft |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=AirFlow Hovercraft NZ}}</ref>

In 2005, the retired frigate {{HMNZS|Wellington|F69|6}} was sunk in Cook Strait off the south coast of Wellington as an artificial reef.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 November 2005 |title=Wellington scuttled in Cook Strait |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wellington-scuttled-in-cook-strait/THDDCKCH7T3DSOBCB5H2YNYTYA/ |access-date=28 January 2025 |website=[[The NZ Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

=== Air services ===
{{Further information|List of Cook Strait crossings by air}}
The first aeroplane flight across Cook Strait occurred in 1920,<ref>[https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/first-flight-across-cook-strait First flight across Cook Strait 25 August 1920]. ''[[New Zealand History Online]]'', Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Updated: 24 August 2020.</ref> jet aeroplane in 1946,{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} helicopter crossing in 1956,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Waugh |first1=Richard J. |title=Strait Across – The Pioneering Story of Cook Strait Aviation |publisher=Craig Printing Ltd |year=1995 |isbn=0473034271 |location=Invercargill, NZ |page=66 |chapter=Other Cook Strait Firsts}}</ref> glider crossing in 1957,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Craven |first=Wynn |date=October-November 2011 |title=The First Glider Crossing of Cook Strait - An Extraordinary Flight in 1957 |url=https://www.mccawmedia.co.nz/getattachment/e8130e01-01df-49d3-8f51-bcd710fd494f/SoaringNZ-Magazine-Back-Issues-Issue-24.aspx |magazine=SoaringNZ |publisher=McCaw Media Ltd |location=Christchurch, NZ |pages=30–32 |format=PDF |issue=24 |issn=}}</ref> balloon crossing (by Roland Parsons and Rex Brereton) in 1975,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-01-08 |title=Historic strait crossing was balloon enthusiast's last trip |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/features/focus/3215841/Historic-strait-crossing-was-balloon-enthusiasts-last-trip |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> microlight aircraft in 1982,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Waugh |first1=Richard J. |title=Strait Across – The Pioneering Story of Cook Strait Aviation |publisher=Craig Printing Ltd |year=1995 |isbn=0473034271 |location=Invercargill, NZ |page=66 |chapter=Other Cook Strait Firsts}}</ref> autogyros in 1999,<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 September 1999 |title=Bill Black and Terry Tiffen flying in their gyrocopters |url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23216417 |access-date=26 January 2025 |website=National Library |language=en}}</ref> paraglider (by Matt Standford) in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-03-03 |title=Paraglider first to cross Cook Strait |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/129511/paraglider-first-to-cross-cook-strait |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> In 2021 the first electric aircraft flight across Cook Strait, from [[Omaka Aerodrome]] to [[Wellington Airport]], by Gary Freedman in a [[Pipistrel Alpha Electro]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Perry |first=Nick |date=1 November 2021 |title=Electric plane crosses NZ's Cook Strait |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7493265/electric-plane-crosses-nzs-cook-strait/ |access-date=3 November 2021 |work=Canberra Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1 November 2021 |title=Electric powered plane makes history in Cook Strait flight |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/11/01/electric-powered-plane-makes-history-in-cook-strait-flight/ |access-date=3 November 2021 |work=[[1News]]}}</ref>

Air services began across Cook Strait in 1935.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} Air lines which operate or have operated flights across Cook Strait include [[Straits Air Freight Express]], [[Air2there]], [[CityJet (New Zealand)|CityJet]] and [[Sounds Air]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

=== Proposals for a bridge or tunnel ===
Proposals have been made for a [[bridge]] or [[undersea tunnel|tunnel]] across Cook Strait.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/short-haul-flight-is-environmental-enemy-no-1-is-it-time-to-revisit-the-cook-strait-tunnel/QA25EBZKRJFAPKXCCUGJLQSUWA/|date=2023-01-17|access-date=2025-03-18|title=Short Haul flight is environmental enemy no 1. Is it time to revisit the Cook Strait Tunnel?|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|first=Thomas|last=Bywater}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://infrastructurenews.co.nz/bridge-tunnel-work-across-cook-strait/|website=infrastructurenews.co.nz|date=2024-02-14|access-date=2025-03-18|title=Could a bridge or tunnel work across the Cook Strait?|first=Nicolas|last=Reid}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2024/03/04/should-we-build-a-bridge-or-tunnel-across-cook-strait/|date=2024-03-04|access-date=2025-03-18|title=Should we build a bridge or tunnel across Cook Strait?|publisher=Greater Auckland}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/521054/why-did-a-man-cross-cook-strait-to-ask-for-a-footbridge|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]]|first=Maia|last=Hart|date=2024-07-02|access-date=2025-03-18|title=Why did a man cross Cook Strait to ask for a footbridge?}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.railfreight.com/infrastructure/2024/07/23/newzealand-rails-across-cook-strait-not-so-straight-forward/|website=RailFreight.com|date=2024-07-23|access-date=2025-03-18|title=New Zealand rails across Cook Strait not so straight forward}}</ref><ref name=tunnel>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/zealand-cook-strait-tunnel-ferries-bridge-d15a1f1d901cb67a4120bb12d9450ccd|publisher=Associated Press|date=2025-01-08|access-date=2025-03-18|title=Wild weather halted ferries between New Zealand's main islands again. Why isn't there a tunnel?|first=Charlotte|last=Graham-McLay}}</ref> {{as of|2025|1}}, a tunnel is estimated to cost {{NZD|50 billion}}, equivalent to 20 years of New Zealand's transport infrastructure development budget. Other obstacles include the large amount of [[seismic activity]] in Cook Strait.<ref name=tunnel/>