Currently, around 51% of the fuel New Zealand imports comes from South Korea and 31% from Singapore. However, New Zealand importers may want the Government to signal, for social licence purposes, that it is comfortable with them selling fuel with Russian origins. Looser fuel specifications could, for example, create more pollution. Finally, Willis said the Government was open to reducing the minimum stock fuel importers are required to hold. Jenée Tibshraeny is the Herald’s Wellington business editor, based in the parliamentary press gallery.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 19, 2026 10:02 UTC