The Kiwi inter-island ferry Aretare is under investigation after a wild crossing on Friday afternoon left passengers brusied and battered.
Passengers on the 2pm sailing from Wellington to Picton on Friday described encountering waves “as big as houses”, seats slewing across the floor and furniture flying during their eight-hour ordeal.
Crossings of Cook Strait usually take three hours.
A crew member and a passenger suffered cracked ribs. Another person was reported to have a broken arm and a fourth person was said to have been “badly smashed up”.
About six railway wagons and several private vehicles broke free of their lashings on the ferry’s vehicle deck.
Maritime New Zealand spokesman Lindsay Sturt said the Transport Accident Investigation Commission had confirmed it would investigate the sailing.
