The Government is being urged to step in to resolve issues with the Waiheke ferry service, as irate commuters face being left out in the cold over the winter months.

It comes as reduced winter sailings to the island have seen many passengers stranded on the dock, missing appointments and unable to get home.

Waiheke local board chairwoman Cath Handley told Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive she was increasingly fielding complaints from island residents, and described the hostility on board ferries as "the worst it's been in 20 years".

"The issue was caused by several factors, including the reduced sailings, a number of recent breakdowns and the size of boats."

Auckland Transport flagged the ferries problem in its Regional Public Transport Plan, approved in February. AT says in the plan it wants ferries integrated with the rest of the city's public transport network by 2021.

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