Taxpayers’ Union challenges MBIE over fuel data secrecy after unanswered questions

The Taxpayers’ Union has today written to MBIE Chief Executive Nic Blakeley demanding answers after officials repeatedly failed to justify claims that key fuel security data must be withheld from the public.

The letter follows last week’s meeting between MBIE's CEO, officials and the Taxpayers’ Union regarding its Fuel Clock (FuelClock.nz), a public dashboard tracking New Zealand’s real-time fuel security.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says the core issue remains simple: officials are refusing to list the ships they claim are 'on water' to New Zealand by hiding behind “commercial sensitivity”. But they cannot explain what the sensitivity actually is.

“We’ve now had multiple meetings with MBIE. Each time we’ve asked a very basic question: what exactly is commercially sensitive about publishing the names of fuel tankers and their cargoes? And each time, we’ve received no answer.”

The Fuel Clock uses MBIE’s own published data but adjusts it to reflect real-time consumption and separates confirmed fuel in New Zealand from shipments that are still days or weeks away.
It currently shows materially lower fuel availability than MBIE’s official “days of cover” figure.

“We’ve gone away and tested MBIE’s claim with industry contacts, a competition law expert, and even a major fuel company. None could identify any credible commercial sensitivity or risk to competition,” says Williams.

“That leaves a simple conclusion: either the risk doesn’t exist, or MBIE is unwilling to explain it.”

The Taxpayers’ Union says the lack of transparency is compounded by inconsistencies in MBIE’s own explanations.

“One week we’re told ships ‘on water’ have left port. The next week we’re told they may not have. That’s not a minor technicality – it goes directly to how much fuel New Zealand actually has available.”

Williams says the public is being asked to rely on outdated and unverifiable information at a time when fuel security is critical.

“MBIE is publishing figures that are already five days out of date, while Ministers are receiving daily updates. At the same time, they’re refusing to release the underlying data that would allow anyone to independently verify the official position.”

“You can’t have it both ways. If the situation is as comfortable as MBIE suggests, then transparency should reinforce that. The refusal to provide detail only undermines confidence.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is again calling on MBIE to release the vessel-level data underpinning its fuel stock figures and to clarify contradictory advice provided to officials and the public.

“This isn’t about causing alarm. It’s about ensuring New Zealanders – and policymakers – can see the reality for themselves.”

The letter can be viewed at www.taxpayers.org.nz/fuel_clock_ltr. The Fuel Clock remains live at FuelClock.nz