Christopher Luxon: Prime Minister on New Zealand's fuel supply amid continuing conflict in the Middle East

The Prime Minister's urging Kiwis to "keep calm and carry on" amid rising anxiety about fuel prices and the conflict in the Middle East. 

Latest official figures show overall fuel supplies remain stable. 

New Zealand has almost 62 days of petrol, more than 51 of diesel, and more than 50 days' worth of jet fuel, either in the country or on the way. 

Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking there's currently no need for fuel restrictions. 

With no supply disruptions, he's urging people to carry on in as normal as way as possible. 

He rejected the idea of whipping people into a frenzy over the fuel crisis to gain political capital, telling Hosking that “It’s not Covid – it’s not life and death”. 
 
The Government was focused on keeping people informed, providing targeted support, and putting in “some prudent thinking ahead in case there is a risk to any supply down the road”, he said. 
 
Asked if New Zealand was hustling, like Australia, to get fuel shipments from different sources, Luxon pointed out Australia had started with lower fuel stocks in the country and did not have the regulatory frameworks New Zealand had already in place. 
 
The Government was talking to fuel importers every day, often several times a day, and all were saying they had no risk to future orders. 
 
“They're finding sources of oil from other places…some of it's coming from Canada, some of it will be coming from Peru, Chile, Suriname, West Africa, other places as well.” 

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