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March 17, 2026
“its really bad out there” Petrol prices surge across Auckland as fuel concerns deepen
Waatea Team
Posted On March 17, 2026
Rapidly rising fuel prices are placing fresh pressure on households across Tāmaki Makaurau, with new data showing sharp increases in both petrol and diesel over the past month.
Radio Waatea General Manager Matthew Tukaki was out with reporting teams across Auckland today, observing firsthand the impact at service stations where prices have climbed significantly in recent weeks.
Figures from fuel tracking platform Gaspy show unleaded 91 has risen by nearly 20 percent over the past 28 days, while diesel prices have surged by more than 45 percent over the same period. The increases are being felt immediately by motorists, freight operators and businesses already under strain from the wider cost-of-living crisis.
Tukaki says the scale of the issue is being underestimated, warning that consumer behaviour is already shifting as uncertainty grows. Many motorists are choosing to keep their tanks between half and three-quarters full rather than running them down, a pattern that can place additional pressure on supply systems during periods of volatility.
New Zealand has approximately 3.6 million passenger cars and vans on the road. Based on an average fuel tank size of around 55 litres, filling just 500,000 vehicles would require an estimated 27.5 million litres of petrol. That scale of demand highlights how quickly fuel stocks can be drawn down if consumer behaviour changes.
Current fuel reserves provide some buffer, but questions remain about resilience. As of mid-March 2026, New Zealand has an estimated 52 to 58 days of total fuel supply when combining fuel held in-country with shipments currently en route.
Within that total, around 32 to 33 days of petrol is available domestically, with a further 22 to 25 days sitting on ships heading to New Zealand. However, that stock must meet the full needs of the country, including transport, agriculture, aviation and industry.
If imports were disrupted, the available petrol supply in-country could last only a matter of weeks under strict rationing, with priority given to essential services.
Tukaki says the current situation is already influencing decision-making across households and businesses, particularly as fuel costs feed directly into other areas of the economy.
The rise in petrol and diesel prices is flowing through to higher transport and freight costs, contributing to increases in food prices and everyday goods. Recent data shows food prices have climbed by 4.5 percent annually, adding to the financial pressure facing whānau.
For many families, the combination of rising fuel costs and increasing grocery bills is stretching budgets even further, particularly for those on lower incomes or living in areas where travel is unavoidable.
With global instability continuing to affect oil markets and shipping routes, there are concerns that fuel prices could remain elevated in the short term.
As pressure builds, questions are being raised about whether current fuel reserves and policy settings are sufficient to manage a prolonged period of volatility, and how prepared the country is to respond if supply disruptions worsen.
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