New Zealand is confronting a 1970s-style energy shock as the Iran crisis disrupts fuel supply, with employers being urged to promote work-from-home arrangements to conserve fuel.
The government has activated New Zealand's fuel escalation levels for the first time in decades, implementing emergency conservation measures as global oil markets convulse following conflict in the Middle East. The measures include public awareness campaigns, priority allocation systems, and requests for businesses to minimize unnecessary transport.
"Employers need to step up and promote working from home during this fuel crisis," one public sector union representative said, echoing growing calls for companies that forced workers back to offices to reverse course. "Driving two hours a day to get to an office when the same work can be done from home is not only a waste of time and money but also a massive waste of fuel."
New Zealand's vulnerability to global oil shocks is particularly acute. The country imports nearly all its refined petroleum products, with no domestic refining capacity since the Marsden Point refinery was converted to an import terminal in 2022. That decision, driven by economics, now looks shortsighted.
Mate, New Zealand's energy vulnerability exposes the stupidity of forcing office workers back to desks during a fuel crisis. It also highlights how Pacific nations get hammered by global conflicts they have zero involvement in.
Fuel prices in New Zealand have surged past NZ$3.50 per liter in some areas, with households facing weekly transport costs that have doubled in months. For a country where public transport infrastructure remains limited outside major centers, the fuel crisis is hitting working families particularly hard.
The escalation levels, based on protocols developed during the 1970s oil shocks, include measures like carless days (where vehicles are restricted based on license plate numbers), fuel rationing, and priority access for essential services. While the government has not yet implemented the strictest measures, officials have warned that further escalation in the Middle East could force more drastic action.
