Iran war: Defence Force scaling back activity to conserve fuel

Tuesday, 24 March 2026

Defence Minister Judith Collins says defence force personnel still have a job to do but must be careful with fuel use as prices increase and supply chains come under strain.

Defence Force personnel have been told to drop any “nice to have” activities to conserve precious fuel.

Defence Minster Judith Collins spoke to the Chief of the Defence Force Air Marshal Tony Davies yesterday, who confirmed a pre-emptive scaling back of fuel usage was under way.

“They have already been considering how they can use the stocks they have and they are very aware of the same issues that everyone else who uses diesel in particular is facing,” Collins said on Tuesday morning.

Defence Minsiter Judith Collins says the Defence Force’s top brass has told personnel to drop any ‘nice to have’ activities in light of the fuel crisis.

It’s not yet clear what activities have been scaled back - The Post has asked the Defence Force what operational or training changes it’s made to conserve fuel.

Collins said she and Davies were on the same page about taking proactive steps.

“When I spoke to him yesterday he had already taken steps to make sure that people were aware [to] do the things we have to do that are critical to the mission or whatever it is that we’re doing and be very aware of the fact that everyone else in the country is worried about fuel and everyone else is having to pay a lot more for fuel at the moment.”

It comes after Reuters reported Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Sunday, that 22 countries, including New Zealand, were co-ordinating efforts to reopen navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Asked about the statement today, Collins said it was “all very hypothetical”.

“We have no request. We don’t know what that request would look like and New Zealand would always have to consider, is this in our best interests and is it right for us to put our people there? The answer may be yes or no it depends on what that request looks like.”

The Government has already said it’s ready to contribute to “appropriate efforts” to ensure safe passage through the Strait.

In a post on X on March 21, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said New Zealand had signed a joint statement with the UK, France and Japan - among others - condemning Iran’s attacks on unarmed commercial vessels in the gulf and civilian infrastructure.

Collins was pressed on what New Zealand’s assistance might look like today but she would not give further details.

“We’re thinking about what is possible, what is in New Zealand’s best interests and any decision will be made by Cabinet.”