Running on empty: Outdated fuel data leaves Kiwis in the dark

The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) for publishing fuel supply data that’s nearly a week out of date, leaving Kiwis in the dark.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“At a time when fuel security is critical, MBIE is asking New Zealanders to make decisions based on last week’s information. That’s simply not good enough.”

“No one seems able to say how much fuel is actually in the country, what’s on the way, or when it will arrive. Even the Prime Minister’s numbers on his Monday morning media round didn’t match MBIE’s just hours later.”

“MBIE keeps hiding behind ‘commercial sensitivity’ to avoid naming incoming fuel ships, yet these are vessels anyone can see sitting in ports just days later.”

“Officials won’t confirm which ships they’re counting, what they’re carrying, or when that fuel will actually be available. That kind of secrecy is unacceptable.”

“A week-long lag raises serious questions about whether officials even understand the country’s fuel position. This information should be being fed to MBIE in real time, and shared with the public daily.”

“When independent analysts using public data can outpace MBIE, something has gone badly wrong. Our Fuel Clock is already cross-checking MBIE’s numbers with live shipping data — and it’s proving more up to date than the official government website.”

“Kiwis deserve better than running on empty, both at the pump and when it comes to information from their government. In a crisis, transparency matters.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on MBIE to answer:

• Why is fuel supply data being released up to a week late?
• What specific information is considered “commercially sensitive”, and why?
• Why are vessel details not being disclosed when they are publicly observable?
• What steps are being taken to ensure the public has access to timely, accurate information?