Luxon Says NZ Fuel Supply Secure

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has stated that New Zealand faces no risk of disruption to our future fuel supply despite a second consecutive decrease in total fuel stocks and the first reported delay of a shipment at an overseas loading hub.

The announcement followed a twice-weekly fuel stocks update published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on April 15, 2026. The data revealed that both on-water and in-country reserves have trended downward.

Fuel Stock Levels

According to the MBIE update, total stocks—which include fuel both on-water and held in-country—as of 11:59 p.m. On April 12, 2026, were as follows:

• Petrol: 56.3 days, down from 59.7 days in the previous snapshot on April 8, 2026.
• Diesel: 45.4 days, down from 49.1 days on April 8, 2026.
• Jet fuel: 47 days, down from 50.7 days on April 8, 2026.

The update also detailed in-country stocks, which refers to fuel already held onshore at storage terminals. These figures also showed a decline compared to the April 8 data.

In-country petrol stocks were recorded at 25.3 days, compared to 25.6 days in the previous update. Diesel stocks fell to 20.8 days from 21.7 days, and jet fuel stocks decreased to 21.3 days from 25.1 days.

An MBIE spokesperson stated that while this is the second consecutive update showing drops in total fuel stock, these changes do not raise any immediate concerns.

Shipment Delays in Singapore

Energy officials confirmed that one small shipment has been delayed in Singapore. This marks the first reported delay of a shipment at an overseas loading hub in the current period.

Officials warned that maritime delays are likely to become more frequent. Because New Zealand is a small market that relies on imported fuel, the timing of these shipments is critical; a single delayed cargo can tighten local inventories, particularly if there are demand spikes or further disruptions in the supply chain.

National Fuel Response Plan

Despite the decline in stocks and the shipment delay, the government has decided not to escalate its response. Prime Minister Luxon confirmed that New Zealand will remain at phase one of the national fuel response plan.

Officials have again recommended that a formal assessment is not necessary at this time. We are staying at phase one of the national fuel response plan.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon

The Prime Minister stated that ministers are meeting regularly and are continuing to receive advice from officials to ensure the systems remain robust.

Political Reaction

The stock figures have drawn criticism from the opposition. Labour leader Chris Hipkins described the latest data as alarming, specifically pointing to the fact that there are now less than three weeks of diesel held in-country.

Hipkins accused the Government of being asleep at the wheel regarding the fuel crisis and claimed the administration was unprepared for these developments.

The government has maintained its stance that supply remains adequate and that the current disruptions are manageable.