Not a useful question

Radio NZ report:

A new poll has found close to half of New Zealanders want the new Interislander ferries to be rail-enabled.

The government is still considering replacement options after ditching Labour’s iRex project citing a large cost blowout, in particular from upgrading port infrastructure, taking the pricetag upwards of $3 billion.

Horizon Research has found 48 percent of people preferred the new ferries to be ‘rail enabled’ – capable of taking roll on, roll off rail carriages.

This is unsurprising, but also of no value for decision making.

There was no mention in the question of cost. Who wouldn’t want rail enabled ferries if they could be done for the same cost (including port infrastructure) as non rail enabled ferries. I’d be in favour if they cost the same. I’m surprised only 48% said they were in favour.

It’s like asking people if they would like to live in a small one bedroom apartment or a large five bedroom house. Who wouldn’t choose the five bedroom house. But if you then introduce price into the equation, you would get very different results.