NZ ‘within spitting distance’ of 50 days’ fuel supply as minister criticises Gull

Tuesday, 17 March 2026

New Zealand is “within spitting distance” of having about 50 days’ worth of fuel supply available or on the way to the country, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says.

Jones, who has responsibility for fuel security and sits on the Government’s Ministerial Economic Security and Supply Chains Group, said the country’s overall supply position remained stable despite some service stations temporarily running short.

Speaking to RNZ, Jones said the roughly 50-day figure includes fuel already stored in New Zealand as well as shipments currently travelling to the country.

“So no New Zealander should be worried about, do we actually have access to the fuel,” he said.

Delivery delays blamed for some empty pumps

Jones said reports of some petrol stations running out of fuel appeared to be linked to delivery delays rather than a national shortage.

He said he had been advised some companies had lost fuel tanker drivers and that trucks delivering fuel to individual service stations had fallen behind schedule.

“But that’s quite different from there being an absence of fuel in New Zealand,” Jones said.

Jones said he was “quite cross” with Gull New Zealand after some of its stations ran out of fuel, saying logistical issues should not be portrayed as a nationwide shortage.

“You cannot say two things at once,” he said. “You cannot tell the Government we have lots of fuel and then be telling the media, ‘Oh, my garage ran out.’”

Jones said he had spoken with the company’s chief executive and urged the retailer to address the delivery problems quickly and avoid messaging that could worsen public concern.

“The last thing we need is misinformation,” he said.

Government monitoring supply levels

Jones said the Government and fuel companies were currently operating under the lowest level of the country’s fuel security framework.

The four-stage system ranges from routine monitoring through to more serious government intervention if supply were to become threatened.

“At the moment we’re in category one,” Jones said.

He said that stage focuses on coordination between the Government and the fuel industry to identify potential problems and, if necessary, use diplomatic channels to assist supply chains.

More significant steps, including regulatory intervention, would only be considered at higher alert levels.

“We’re miles away from there,” Jones said.

He added that fuel companies had not advised the Government of any issues accessing fuel from refineries in Southeast Asia that supply New Zealand.

Global tensions driving higher prices

Jones said rising petrol prices were being driven largely by global oil market pressures.

A significant share of global oil shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route near the Middle East.

Jones said refineries in Southeast Asia — which supply much of New Zealand’s fuel — rely heavily on crude oil feedstock that passes through that area.

“We are seeing no cessation of the conflict in the Middle East,” he said.

“That’s what’s been driving the increase in prices.”

Jones declined to speculate on how high petrol prices could rise.

“I don’t want to indiscriminately start plucking figures out of the sky,” he said.

Possible support measures being explored

Jones said officials had been asked to look at whether any support measures might be needed if fuel price pressures continued.

Advice had been sought from the New Zealand Treasury and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on possible interventions.

Jones said ministers meet daily as part of the economic security group while monitoring developments.

However, he said the Government wanted to be careful about introducing any support schemes too quickly.

“We know it’s one thing to introduce support measures, and another thing to remove them,” Jones said.

If support was introduced, he said it would need to be carefully targeted at those most affected by rising costs.