Fuel supply disruption response
MBIE is actively assessing the fuel security situation for New Zealand following the continuing events in the Middle East.
On this page I tēnei whārangi
The Government has updated the National Fuel Response Plan. For a factsheet, a question-and-answer document, and more information about the Phase 4 user categories, visit the Beehive website.
Flexibility, adaptability key to Fuel Response Plan(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz
Latest fuel stocks update
MBIE publishes the latest information on fuel stocks and shipping every Monday and Wednesday afternoon. Fuel supply remains within normal levels.
What you need to know
- We are currently in phase 1 of the National Fuel Response Plan 2026.
- Fuel supply is currently stable, and our stocks remain sufficient.
- Since New Zealand entered Phase 1 on 27 March, 2026, we have seen people and businesses use less fuel than usual.
- This reflects:
- higher prices at the pump driven by global conflict;
- people making simple changes to travel and driving habits; and
- businesses adjusting operations to reduce fuel use.
- New Zealand has clear, proven arrangements for managing disruptions. The Government has put the Fuel Response Plan 2026 in place so it can act early and deliberately, based on evidence, across a range of possible scenarios.
- The Government has:
- provided temporary and targeted support to help address price pressures, through the family tax credit and increases to mileage rates for home and community support workers, patients needing to travel long distances to specialist care, relief teachers travelling long distances to schools, and veterans needing to travel to medical appointments
- secured an additional 90 million litres of fuel supply
- aligned fuel specifications with Australia’s standards to improve supply flexibility, and we are assessing whether further specification changes could be helpful
- continued to work closely with industry, businesses, and the public to prepare for potential future disruptions.
- The price of petrol and diesel is expected to continue to remain high in the coming weeks. Businesses should plan ahead for higher fuel costs in ways that make sense for their operations, employees, and customers.
In this section I tēnei wāhanga
Fuel security
New Zealand has well established arrangements for identifying and responding to international fuel disruptions.
Response phases
The National Fuel Response Plan 2026 has been updated and there is more detail on what the response phases will look like for New Zealanders. At every phase, the Government will continue to publish regular updates so households, businesses, and critical services know what is happening and what to expect.
Critical supply chains
New Zealand relies on a range of critical supply chains to support economic activity, essential services, and the wellbeing of households and businesses.
Fuel stock and shipping updates
MBIE publishes the latest information on fuel stocks and shipping every Monday and Wednesday afternoon.
Feedback
You can provide feedback on the National Fuel Response Plan by completing this form.
National Fuel Response Plan form(external link) — FormBuilder.govt