Iran Conflict Member Hub
Conflict in the Middle East is driving unprecedented volatility in New Zealand’s transport sector.
National Road Carriers Association (NRC) is ensuring your business has the tools to deal with this situation and your voice is heard by the Government.
ADVOCACY
NRC is providing industry intelligence to Finance Minister Nicola Willis and the Ministerial Economic Security Group through our membership of the Freight Advisory Group.
We need your boots-on-the-ground data to inform the Government’s response. Please send any feedback regarding business or operational impacts directly to the NRC team.
Latest Updates
Current fuel stock:
The latest update shows national fuel stocks remain stable with sufficient stock levels across petrol, diesel and jet fuel. Stocks for petrol and diesel are lower and stocks for jet fuel have increased since the previous update. Movements remain within expectations and show normal patterns.
Data will next be updated on the afternoon of Wednesday 22 April.
| Stock | Number of ships | Petrol | Diesel | Jet fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-country | 29.6 | 19.5 | 28.5 | |
| On water within EEZ (up to 2 days away) | 7 | 16.7 | 10.8 | 1.6 |
| On water outside EEZ (up to 3 weeks away) | 6 | 7.7 | 14.6 | 21.3 |
| Total NZ stock* | 54.0 | 44.8 | 51.4 |
*Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Previous fuel stock:
Previously reported fuel stock as at 11:59PM Sunday 12 April (as days’ cover). This data was published 15 April.
| Stock | Number of ships | Petrol | Diesel | Jet fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-country | 25.3 | 20.8 | 21.3 | |
| On water within EEZ (up to 2 days away) | 5 | 10.6 | 10.8 | 10 |
| On water outside EEZ (up to 3 weeks away) | 7 | 20.4 | 13.8 | 15.7 |
| Total NZ stock* | 56.3 | 45.4 | 47.0 |
*Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Further detail:
MBIE receives twice-weekly updates from fuel importers. This data is cross-checked against shipping information and aggregated to protect commercial confidentiality.
Days’ cover
The average daily fuel demand used by MBIE to calculate days of cover is 8.1 million litres of petrol, 10.7 million litres of diesel and 4.8 million litres of jet fuel.
The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
The Exclusive Economic Zone is a boundary that extends 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) off the coast.
On water within EEZ
Fuel is being unloaded from ships, on board ships at berth but not yet unloading, or on ships moving between ports or entering the EEZ from international waters.
On water outside EEZ
Fuel on ships that have left their port of origin but not yet entered New Zealand waters.
On water within EEZ and On water were combined in previous reporting as On water.
International events can create uncertainty, but New Zealand’s fuel supply system is designed to operate reliably under a range of global conditions. In the short term, New Zealanders can be confident that we have the fuel we need to keep people, goods and essential services moving.
Ministry of Transport – latest Fuel Response Monitoring Dashboard
National Fuel Response Plan
The Fuel Response Plan 2026 provides a structured, four-phase framework to manage risks to New Zealand’s fuel security (petrol, diesel, and jet fuel). It scales from routine monitoring to strict emergency controls. We are currently in Phase One
The Four Phases of Response
| Phase | Market Condition | Government Action | Public Guidance |
| 1. Watchful | Market is effective; prices may be rising. | Monitor stocks; publish updates; coordinate with industry. | Use fuel as normal; stay informed via MBIE/EECA. |
| 2.Precautionary | Market is effective, but signs of supply disruption appear. | Shore up supply; review fuel-use regulations; public sector demand reduction. | Consider combining trips; follow fuel-saving tips. |
| 3. Managed* | Supply is tight; intervention required. | Prioritize life-preserving services; implement purchase limits. | Follow limits; rely on prioritized essential services. |
| 4. Protected* | Major or sustained supply disruption. | Strictly direct fuel distribution; formal rules for fair sharing. | Use service stations only as directed; focus on essentials. |
*Phases 3 and 4 are currently under consultation.
Security Alert - Protecting your fleet & fuel
With the rising cost of fuel across the country, we have received reports of trucks being specifically targeted while parked up. Opportunistic theft is on the rise, and unfortunately, this trend is expected to continue as fuel prices remain high.
We urge all members to be extra vigilant with their vehicles and parking choices. To minimise the risk to your fleet, please consider the following security measures:
Secure Parking: Whenever possible, park in well-lit, fenced, or monitored areas rather than leaving vehicles in isolated or dark locations.
Physical Deterrents: Ensure all fuel caps are locked and consider installing anti-siphoning devices or fuel alarms.
Driver Awareness: Remind your teams to perform a quick visual check of their fuel tanks and seals before starting their shift.
Report Activity: If you notice any suspicious behavior around your depot or parked vehicles, please report it to the authorities immediately.
Protecting your assets is more critical than ever. Let’s work together to keep our industry moving safely.
in the news
ONE News – National Fuel Plan Update
NZ Herald (requires premium subscription to read) – Diesel price surge: Freight firms add fuel surcharges as costs jump 80%
Beehive.govt.nz – Fuel Stocks Remain Healthy
TVNZ Q&A – Interview with Nicola Willis
Radio New Zealand – Interview with Nicola Willis
1News (lead story watch from 1m30s) – TVNZ+
NewstalkZB (listen on Sunday 8 Mar at 6am – Week on Demand – NewstalkZB
KiwiRail Freight Capacity
KiwiRail Freight Capacity can be found at the below link:
KiwiRail Freight Capacity Link
Commerce Commission
Fuel price monitoring – Middle East conflict
The Commission is publishing regular fuel price monitoring reports in response to the conflict in the Middle East and the impact on global fuel prices.
16 April 2026: This week’s report includes some additional content. To provide a clearer comparison between movements in retail fuel prices and the underlying costs of fuel, we have included a table showing refined product costs as a 14-day rolling average. We consider that it is more meaningful to look at the relationship between costs and retail prices on a slightly longer timescale because while we observe volatility in the day-to-day product costs we have observed fuel companies smoothing these changes when setting local prices. In addition, we have included excise tax, ETS and GST in the calculation of refined product costs to provide consistency in tax treatment between costs and prices.
Our latest analysis (to 15 April) shows that prices for all fuel types, including diesel, appear to be stabilising at a high level. This also aligns with a stabilising in the 14-day rolling average for refined product costs for Regular 91 and Premium 95, and a recent small decrease in refined product costs for Diesel. The gap between the 14-day rolling average refined product cost and daily retail prices for all fuel types narrowed significantly in March as costs increased faster than prices at the pump. In the last two weeks this gap has started to return to closer to pre-conflict levels.
ComCom Fuel Price Monitoring
member resources
Fuel Discounts: Access highly competitive rates through our partners Z Energy and Mobil. Pricing is updated every Tuesday (Z Energy) and Saturday (Mobil).
Mobil gives a fuel discount off their national list price of 29 cents per litre of diesel and 12 cents per litre of petrol to NRC members at all Mobil Service Stations and Truck Stops, also at some non-branded sites including selected Waitomo and Allied Petroleum locations.
Z Energy offers a discount off their national price of 26.25 cents per litre of diesel at Truck Stops, and 10 cents per litre of diesel and petrol at Z, Caltex and Challenge Service Stations.
Z are also offering a $200 fuel credit to NRC members who open a new Z Business fuel card by 30 April 2026
Fuel Adjustment Factor (FAF) Calculator: Use our professional mechanism to pass on short-term fuel fluctuations to customers fairly.
FAF Calculator
Member Guidance on Fuel Adjustment Factors
Transport Cost-Model Tool: Calculate accurate distance or weight-based costs to ensure your margins remain protected.
Cost Model Tool
Infometrics Transport Cost-Index: A customisable tool to help you understand how underlying cost changes impact your specific business model.
Cost-Index
Need Expert Advice? Our team are standing by to help you navigate operational hurdles. Call us on 0800 686 777.
