New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters says gear failure, not wind gusts, were responsible for the latest woes to beset Cook Strait ferry Aratere.

He's disputing KiwiRail's explanation of events saying sources have told him the ship's mooring system failed to hold it in place.

Mr Peters says KiwiRail tried to claim a freak wind gust made the ferry bump into the wharf, but their ill-conceived lengthening of the Aratere means its systems were really to blame.

Talks will be held between KiwiRail and Port Marlborough, after an Interislander ferry damaged a loading dock.

Sixty knot winds caused the Aratere to smash into the dock on Friday - delaying ferries for the rest of the day.

Port Marlborough CEO Ian McNabe says they want to discuss a way to ensure this doesn't happen again.

"There'll be a discussion between us and Interislander about how they berth in certain times."