Govt asleep at the wheel as fuel crisis bites
The fuel crisis in New Zealand is no longer some abstract overseas shock. It’s landing here — in higher prices, tighter diesel stocks, and a government that still looks like it’s making this up as it goes along. Labour’s attack is simple: if the plan exists, why can’t anyone clearly explain it?
The Government looks increasingly unprepared as fuel stocks fall and prices for New Zealanders keep rising.
“Christopher Luxon isn’t being straight with New Zealanders – he still hasn’t explained what happens if shortages hit,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.
So what’s the Government’s actual fuel crisis plan?
“National can’t say at what point we move from one stage to another. Kiwis deserve to know what the plan is, but two months into this conflict, the Government still can’t explain it.
“This is the second update in a week showing New Zealand’s supply of petrol, diesel, and jet fuel have all gone down. Most alarming of all, there’s now less than three weeks of diesel in the country, which is critical for the economy.
“We would have been much better prepared if National hadn’t scrapped Labour’s proposal to build an additional 70 million litres of diesel storage.
And who pays while Luxon dithers?
“Families already stretched by rising food, health and power costs are now facing even higher fuel prices with no relief in sight.
“Dealing with the fuel crisis should be this Government’s top priority. Instead, they’re sitting back and hoping for the best. Hope is not a plan, and it won’t keep fuel flowing for households and businesses.
“Other countries are already acting decisively. In Australia, they’re pulling out all the stops. This government needs to step up,” Chris Hipkins said.
This is the danger for Luxon. A fuel crisis isn’t just about tankers, stockpiles and technical briefings — it’s about whether people believe the government actually has control of events. Right now, that confidence looks thin. And when diesel — the backbone of the entire economy — starts running low, “hope for the best” stops sounding like reassurance and starts sounding like negligence.
Chris Hipkins has described, “as alarming the second consecutive drop in stocks and the first reported delay of a shipment at an overseas loading hub”! He also reiterates that, “we would have been much better prepared if National hadn’t scrapped Labour’s proposal to build an additional 70m litres of diesel storage”. While Stuff’s, Shamubeel Eaquab, also raises questions and offers improvements. TPM has pointed out, “the Govt is using outdated fuel data while diesel likely to be below emergency levels”. Meanwhile pompous Luxon and airhead Willis appear naively content with no plans to go to stage 2! They still haven’t got a clue, but that’s so typical of this hopeless CoC.