2026 Fuel Prices & Security of Supply

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › 2026 Fuel Prices & Security of Supply

1 | ... | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | ... | 65

1973 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1906

#3471651 19-Mar-2026 12:02

Eva888:

Unnecessary means just that.

As much as I agree with most of your post, this is the exact problem of asking people to curb unnecessary trips. Everyone defines "necessary" differently. Work is necessary, but what if your work provides an unnecessary service, so even if you go there you'll have no customers? What about "leisure" activities? Are kids sports cancelled? Are birthday parties cancelled? Do we close public libraries and swimming pools since it isn't necessary for people to go there? What about the people who work there? Do we cover their loss of income? Do we close down every part of the economy and society which does not directly service the bottom tier of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

cruxis

512 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 346

#3471661 19-Mar-2026 12:22

The price will define what is unnecessary for me. Not some "Covid 91" restrictions.

kangaroo13

87 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 90

#3471665 19-Mar-2026 12:32

cruxis:

The price will define what is unnecessary for me. Not some "Covid 91" restrictions.

And this is precisely the problem. Presumably you are comfortably well off - so your 'unnecessary' means you still get to do a lot more than some poor sod on struggle street. In fact - if you are wealthy, you get to carry on with impunity while essential services are curtailed for everyone else.

Eva888

2768 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2431

Lifetime subscriber

#3471668 19-Mar-2026 12:35

cddt:

Eva888:

Unnecessary means just that.

As much as I agree with most of your post, this is the exact problem of asking people to curb unnecessary trips. Everyone defines "necessary" differently. Work is necessary, but what if your work provides an unnecessary service, so even if you go there you'll have no customers? What about "leisure" activities? Are kids sports cancelled? Are birthday parties cancelled? Do we close public libraries and swimming pools since it isn't necessary for people to go there? What about the people who work there? Do we cover their loss of income? Do we close down every part of the economy and society which does not directly service the bottom tier of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

Agree with what you write. The intention behind the word unnecessary was for individuals to have the moral compass to choose their trips wisely for the greater good of everyone in case we can hold out long enough for the situation to change. My personal opinion is that it’s wishful thinking this war will end soon. The perpetrators may now want it to end but the choice is no longer theirs to make.

Inevitably everyone is going to suffer if this war continues and it will affect all of your above points.

MikeAqua

8033 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3823

#3471671 19-Mar-2026 12:55

mattwnz:

Getting panels installed in NZ seem expensive compared to what they pay in the US. I guess more adoption in nz will help bring down prices but guessing that margins at the moment are quite healthy

If you import your own panels, in bulk, they are cheap. Same panels. Same factory. A fraction of the price a package installer will charge.

And you own the things outright from day one. The downsides are ... you have no warranty and no installer that sells complete systems will touch them. Also ... ANZ, and I presume other banks, requires you to use a registered installer, if you want to get one of their green mortgages. The same would apply for any govt subsidy, I imagine. Those installers know that, and you pay a corresponding premium - as happened when insulation was subsidised.

Obviously, you legally have to have a registered electrician for some aspects of the install - it would be foolish and dangerous not to. However, ... you don't have to be a rocket surgeon to physically install the panels.

Ditto batteries.

Ditto support framing for panels and batteries.

Ditto cabling.

If you do your own, you can also introduce innovations that aren't an option with package installers.

Obviously, DIY isn't everyone's cup of tea. But we do get brutally ripped off in this country.

Mike

fastbike

450 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 324

#3471672 19-Mar-2026 12:55

So there is an update on the MBIE site showing current fuel stocks, both here and due to arrive. At first glance they look okay(ish):

However they helpfully break the on-water figure into week one and week two.

Week one has ten tankers, week two has one tanker.

Chat tells me Typical voyage times to NZ:

Singapore → NZ: ~10–14 days

South Korea → NZ: ~14–18 days

The last scheduled fuel delivery to New Zealand is the STI Magic, due at Mount Maunganui on 30 March. After that, there is no confirmed supply. (hat tip Nathan Surendan)

So my guess is that the government will try to keep calm and not panic people so they get to enjoy Easter and them slam us into full time rationing from early April, at which point we will be down to around 35 days of fuel. Rather than treat us like grown ups and introduce something like TEQs relatively soon.

Otautahi Christchurch

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

MikeAqua

8033 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3823

#3471679 19-Mar-2026 13:34

cddt:

Eva888:

Unnecessary means just that.

As much as I agree with most of your post, this is the exact problem of asking people to curb unnecessary trips. Everyone defines "necessary" differently. Work is necessary, but what if your work provides an unnecessary service, so even if you go there you'll have no customers? What about "leisure" activities? Are kids sports cancelled? Are birthday parties cancelled? Do we close public libraries and swimming pools since it isn't necessary for people to go there? What about the people who work there? Do we cover their loss of income? Do we close down every part of the economy and society which does not directly service the bottom tier of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

Right ... and cancelling unnecessary travel, affects businesses that people rely on to work. Is it necessary to get a haircut or get your nails done or your body hair waxed off or go out for dinner. Big chunks of employment aren't necessary. For many/most people there is always the option of walking, or biking (😱).

Is horticulture that uses diesel for heating necessary? I mean do we really need tomatoes, lettuces, soft herbs and cucumbers after Autumn? Where I live, it's vintage and there is huge amount of diesel being burned harvesting grapes. One local servo ran out of diesel on Tuesday (purely a local logistics issue). Wine is bad for you (Is still drink it), so it isn't really necessary. Where is the line drawn? Who gets fuel and how many incomes/businesses are we prepared to sacrifice. It's far from easy and I'm really glad I'm not the person that has to choose.

We could for example, temporarily ban visitors. That would reduce demand for fuel for aircraft, rental vehicles and heating accommodation in some places.

Government could probably save fuel in government buildings that are heated with diesel, by turning the thermostat down a degree or two. They tend to be about incubator temperature.

Mike

wellygary

8821 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5303

#3471691 19-Mar-2026 14:01

fastbike:

introduce something like TEQs relatively soon.

The bureaucracy needed to spin up rationing is significant,

The last time we "build something while flying it" was MIQ , and TBH it was a total cluster

(most inside NZ didn't see it, but those offshore who uses it will attest to it being like a giant cr@pshoot)

If you think the snitching on "stay safe stay home" was significant, just wait till people start dobbing in their neighbour for driving too much...

wellygary

8821 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5303

#3471695 19-Mar-2026 14:08

fastbike:

The last scheduled fuel delivery to New Zealand is the STI Magic, due at Mount Maunganui on 30 March. After that, there is no confirmed supply. (hat tip Nathan Surendan)

Because this data was as at the 15th March and there is a great big caveat at the bottom,

It excludes everything after to 30th March..... so the reason its not there, is that its been excluded.

"This data does not include shipments more than 2 weeks away, including cargoes already loaded, currently loading or planned."

gzt

18710 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7838

Lifetime subscriber

#3471698 19-Mar-2026 14:14

MikeAqua: We could for example, temporarily ban visitors. That would reduce demand for fuel for aircraft, rental vehicles and heating accommodation in some places.

With the combination of the ongoing war near a major transit hub and high jet fuel prices we can expect some natural drop-off in that area. I think it will be substantial.

kangaroo13

87 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 90

#3471712 19-Mar-2026 15:03

Eva888:

My personal opinion is that it’s wishful thinking this war will end soon. The perpetrators may now want it to end but the choice is no longer theirs to make.

But, but, but ... didn't Trump just say last night that he could finish the war this week if he wanted to?

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

HarmLessSolutions

1230 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 813

Subscriber

#3471716 19-Mar-2026 15:09

kangaroo13:

Eva888:

My personal opinion is that it’s wishful thinking this war will end soon. The perpetrators may now want it to end but the choice is no longer theirs to make.

But, but, but ... didn't Trump just say last night that he could finish the war this week if he wanted to?

I suspect even Trump is coming to the realisation that he has lost control of this situation. (Or did you maybe miss the '/s' after your post?)

He was intending regime change, just not for the US (or NZ if our government don't start governing effectively soon).

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

wellygary

8821 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5303

#3471733 19-Mar-2026 15:46

HarmLessSolutions:

I suspect even Trump is coming to the realisation that he has lost control of this situation. (Or did you maybe miss the '/s' after your post?)

He was intending regime change, just not for the US (or NZ if our government don't start governing effectively soon).

Trump has not lost control of the situation,

He can stop it in an instant by halting the bombing of Iran and pulling Israel to heel... Whether he chooses to exert this control is up to him...

If this is the outcome he wants is a totally different question.... (although It sounds like Trumps patience with Israel is wearing thin)

Even the Prusisans knew that "No plan survives first contact with the enemy"...

fastbike

450 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 324

#3471736 19-Mar-2026 15:50

wellygary:

Trump has not lost control of the situation,

He can stop it in an instant by halting the bombing of Iran and pulling Israel to heel... Whether he chooses to exert this control is up to him...

If this is the outcome he wants is a totally different question.... (although It sounds like Trumps patience with Israel is wearing thin)

Even the Prusisans knew that "No plan survives first contact with the enemy"...

Even if he stops and Israel stops, the Iranians will not stop until they achieve their objectives.

So tRump has lost control.

Otautahi Christchurch

mattwnz

20520 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4798

#3471737 19-Mar-2026 15:51

I just wonder what things are going to be like in 5 years time. Hopefully he will essentially get wiped from the history books.

1 | ... | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | ... | 65