The New Zealand Government has announced a temporary policy change aimed at strengthening the country’s fuel supply resilience, as global market conditions remain tight.
Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones said the Government will allow fuel that meets Australian specifications to be imported and sold domestically. The move is intended to give fuel importers greater flexibility and access to a wider pool of international suppliers.
“In a constrained global fuel market, flexibility is critical,” Jones said, noting that the decision removes technical barriers that could otherwise limit New Zealand’s ability to secure fuel shipments available to Australia.
The temporary alignment means fuel refined to Australian standards can now enter the New Zealand market, reducing the risk of supply disruptions caused by minor specification differences. According to the Government, these standards are already closely aligned, and Australian-spec fuel is compatible with New Zealand vehicles while meeting safety and quality requirements.
However, the Government has opted not to follow Australia’s recent decision to permit higher-sulphur fuel imports. Australia introduced that measure to expand supply options, including access to output from the Brisbane refinery. Jones said New Zealand will continue to monitor the situation and may consider further adjustments if necessary.
The policy change is described as a temporary measure and could remain in place for up to 12 months. Officials say the Government will continue reviewing market conditions and exploring additional steps to ensure stable fuel supply during ongoing global uncertainty.
