Luxon said though national fuel supplies were okay for now, the government would consider whether to move New Zealand up a fuel escalation level next week. "We have sufficient fuel supplies, but even in the unlikely event the ceasefire is announced tomorrow, the effects on global supply chains and fuel supplies won't be immediately resolved. She sought to reassure New Zealanders the government was taking the situation seriously in case future fuel supplies were disrupted. We're not just sitting back and saying, well, the fuel supplies are fine now. The government will give twice-weekly fuel supply updates, with the next due on Monday.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 19, 2026 05:58 UTC