File photo: Getty ImagesThe government should start prioritising diesel allocation now as the fuel situation is only getting worse, Westpac's chief economist says. The government's utmost priority was ensuring that the country had fuel - even if that meant fuel suppliers paying additional Iranian tolls, he said. "There needs to be a reworking of the allocations which is what the importers and the distributors need to work out this week, and it's up to them to do so." 'This problem is not going away'Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold told RNZ's Morning Report the government would be wise to start prioritising diesel allocation now, and that the situation is only getting worse. "Diesel that we burn now could be diesel that we need in three or four weeks.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 29, 2026 22:02 UTC