Ngaire and Whakamua — Pip Ballantine

New Zealand like the rest of the world, has been broken and remade by the zombie apocalypse. Humanity is scattered, sheltering as best it can in isolated settlements. However, there is hope, and it rests with one old woman and her machine.
Whakamua, the track laying train's mission is to connect Ngaire's home to the rest of civilization. As they set off for Wellington, where they hope to find more survivors,Ngaire knows it is going to be a long road, but she can't anticipate the dangers that are waiting for them just outside the gate.

A short story by the co-author of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, and the author of the Books of the Order, Philippa Ballantine.