MBIE Fuel Data Four Days Late: Are Officials Guessing While Kiwis Run on Empty?

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling for better transparency from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) after it released today's fuel stock data that is already four days out of date, despite the importance of timely information during the ongoing fuel crisis.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“In a situation where supply certainty is critical, MBIE appears to be okay sharing last week’s information while asking the public to trust today’s reassurances. If ships were already inside New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone four days ago, then they should be here now. So why can’t MBIE simply tell us what those ships are?”

“The lack of basic transparency is baffling, particularly when the information isn't commercially sensitive. Anyone living near a port could look out their window and spot these ships, yet MBIE won’t even provide names or be clear what ship loads they're counting as 'on-shore', 'in EEZ' and 'on-water’."

"The delayed data raises concerns about whether the public are being kept in the dark during a critical supply crunch."

“At a time when Kiwis are worried about fuel availability, businesses are under pressure, and the economy is feeling the strain, MBIE’s response is to publish stale data. New Zealanders deserve real-time clarity, not lagging spreadsheets.”

"The same is true about data MBIE apparently holds, but isn't releasing, about daily fuel use. There is nothing commercially sensitive about releasing aggregated data."

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on MBIE to answer the following:

1. What are the Names and IMO numbers of all of the vessels counted within each category on the MBIE fuel stock table? For example, are the vessels that are technically here and currently unloading fuel counted in the In-Country row of the On water within EEZ row?
2. For the vessels listed as "On water outside EEZ", which are actually confirmed (with at least 90% certainty of arrival) or are they, as many suspect, simply ’Scheduled’ or ‘Likely’?
3. Why is MBIE providing what is essentially 5-day outdated information instead of the 'daily' data is is apparently receiving?

"MBIE criticises tools such as the FuelClock.nz but refuses to engage or say what, if anything, is incorrect. We suspect its failure to answer basic questions - or disclose their changing methodology - is because the third party tools are proving more accurate than their own website."