New Zealand Mobilizes Navy to Address Jet Fuel Shortage Ahead of Vote, Reports Reuters

By Ana Nicolaci da Costa

WELLINGTON – A New Zealand navy vessel is set to transport diesel fuel across the country as the government takes urgent steps to address a prolonged fuel shortage that has disrupted air travel ahead of Saturday’s national election.

The ship will deliver up to 4.8 million liters of diesel, which is comparable to the load of 150 tankers, to allow industry players to prioritize supplying jet fuel to Auckland Airport, which has been severely affected by the situation, according to Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins.

This week, over 120 flights were canceled in New Zealand’s largest city, affecting thousands of travelers daily due to damage to the sole privately owned pipeline that delivers jet fuel from a refinery to the airport.

"The government will continue to do everything it can to support industry efforts to address the disruption," Collins stated.

In response to the ongoing crisis, the New Zealand government and industry have implemented various measures, including fuel rationing, military assistance to transport fuel supplies, and the formation of a government-industry group to manage the repercussions.

On Thursday, an additional 14 flights were canceled, according to Auckland Airport, though this number was less than half of the cancellations reported on Wednesday.

"Generally what we are seeing is the cancellations across the industry have stabilized," said Justin Tighe-Umbers, executive director of the Board of Airline Representatives New Zealand.

The situation has posed a significant challenge for the ruling National Party as it competes with the revitalized Labour Party in the lead-up to determining the next government.

Recent polls indicate that the National Party holds nearly a 10-point lead over Labour, although polling has fluctuated, with Labour occasionally enjoying a comfortable advantage.

Jacinda Ardern, who has significantly improved Labour’s prospects since assuming leadership in August, has criticized the government for failing to take preventive actions to avert the infrastructure failure that caused the current fuel shortage.

In a separate effort, Australia’s Qantas Airways operated two flights from Australia, referred to as "fuel mules," to transport fuel for Jetstar and Qantas aircraft in Auckland. One was a scheduled A330 passenger service carrying an additional 10,000 kilograms of fuel, while the other was a special 747 flight loaded with 65,000 kilograms of fuel.