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Fuel prices in New Zealand vary over time and by region. As of July 2025, the price of gasoline in New Zealand was NZD 2.70 per liter, which is higher than the global average of USD 1.20 per liter. In December 2024, the average price of diesel fuel in New Zealand was NZD 1.837 per liter, with prices varying across regions such as Auckland and Christchurch. The cost of fuel in New Zealand includes various components such as importer margins, duties, taxes, and levies, and the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current gasoline price | NZD 2.70 per liter or USD 1.61 per liter |
| Average gasoline price from 2015-08-17 to 2025-07-28 | NZD 2.42 per liter |
| Minimum gasoline price during the period | NZD 1.83 on 2016-02-15 |
| Maximum gasoline price during the period | NZD 3.34 on 2022-06-20 |
| Average diesel price in Dec 2024 | NZD 1.837 per liter |
| Diesel price in Sep 2024 | NZD 1.912 per liter |
| All-time high diesel price | NZD 2.636 per liter in Sep 2022 |
| All-time low diesel price | NZD 0.062 per liter in Mar 1974 |
| Approximate petrol price | NZD 2.30 per liter |
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What You'll Learn
Petrol costs around $2.30 per litre
Petrol costs in New Zealand currently stand at around $2.30 per litre, or approximately NZ$10 per US gallon. This price is not fixed and has fluctuated over time, with the average price per litre of gasoline being NZD 2.42 since 2015. The price reached an all-time high of NZD 3.34 in June 2022 and a record low of NZD 1.83 in February 2016.
The cost of fuel in New Zealand is influenced by various factors, including the cost of importing fuel, which includes purchasing fuel in Singapore, shipping, insurance, and handling fees. The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and taxes also play a role in determining fuel prices. Additionally, the level of discounting offered by retailers through loyalty schemes and regional variations, such as the Auckland regional fuel tax, can impact the price paid by consumers.
The price of diesel fuel in New Zealand has also seen fluctuations, with an all-time high of NZD 2.636 per litre in September 2022 and a record low of NZD 0.062 per litre in March 1974. As of December 2024, the average price of diesel fuel in New Zealand was NZD 1.837 per litre.
It is worth noting that these prices are adjusted to account for significant discounting activities, and the actual price at the pump may differ due to loyalty schemes, shopper coupons, and regional variations. These prices can significantly impact the cost of living and travelling in New Zealand, especially for those covering long distances or those visiting from other countries.
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NZ prices higher than the global average
As of 28 July 2025, the price of gasoline in New Zealand was NZD 2.70 per liter, or USD 1.61 per liter. This is significantly higher than the global average of USD 1.20 per liter. While the price of gasoline has fluctuated in New Zealand, with a minimum of NZD 1.83 in February 2016 and a maximum of NZD 3.34 in June 2022, it has consistently been higher than the global average.
There are several reasons why fuel prices in New Zealand are higher than the global average. One factor is the cost of importing fuel. New Zealand purchases fuel in US dollars, so when the New Zealand dollar falls against the US dollar, fuel prices increase. The cost of importing fuel includes not just the cost of purchasing the fuel but also shipping, insurance, losses, and wharfage and handling fees.
Another factor influencing fuel prices in New Zealand is taxation. Taxes and levies, including those related to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), contribute to the overall cost of fuel. In addition, there are regional fuel taxes, such as the 10 cents per liter tax applicable in the Auckland region.
Global factors also play a role in New Zealand's fuel prices. Supply and demand, the political climate, seasonal demands, and exchange rates can all impact fuel prices. For example, investment speculation due to a weaker global economic climate and a weak US dollar has directed money towards food and oil, contributing to rising prices.
Overall, the combination of import costs, taxation, and global factors contributes to New Zealand's fuel prices being higher than the global average. These prices can have a significant impact on consumers, who feel the effects of fluctuations in fuel prices immediately.
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Regional price differences
Fuel prices in New Zealand have been adjusted to account for significant discounting activity, such as loyalty schemes and coupons, since 2006. The country's fuel prices are determined by a variety of factors, including the cost of importing fuel, transportation, distribution, retailing costs, taxes, and levies. As of July 2025, the gasoline price in New Zealand was NZD 2.70 per liter, with prices varying across different regions.
The level of discounting and pricing can also vary across regions. Stats NZ collects information about discounting practices from major fuel retailers and surveys service stations in 12 regions of New Zealand. This information is used to estimate the level of discounting each quarter by comparing the average main port price to the average retail price. Regional discounting has become an increasingly common practice, impacting the final fuel prices consumers pay in different areas.
Additionally, the cost of importing fuel to New Zealand, including purchasing costs in Singapore, shipping, insurance, and handling, can vary across different ports of entry, indirectly affecting regional fuel prices. The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) may also influence fuel prices in certain regions, depending on local environmental policies and initiatives.
It is worth noting that fuel prices in New Zealand have seen fluctuations over time, with an all-time high of NZD 3.34 per liter in June 2022 and a record low of NZD 0.062 per liter in March 1974. These historical price variations further emphasize the dynamic nature of fuel pricing across different regions in the country.
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Importing costs
As of 28 July 2025, the price of gasoline in New Zealand was NZD 2.70 per litre or USD 1.61 per litre. The average price of gasoline worldwide is USD 1.20 per litre.
The retail importer margin is the gross margin available to fuel retailers to cover domestic transportation, distribution, and retailing costs within New Zealand, as well as profit margins. The importer cost reflects the cost of purchasing the fuel in Singapore and shipping it to New Zealand, insurance and losses, and wharfage and handling. This cost is monitored by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, along with the Commerce Commission, to understand what is driving changes in the retail pump prices being faced by consumers.
The retail importer margin is calculated as the difference between the discounted price less duties, taxes, levies, the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), and the importer cost. The calculation of importer margins was adjusted in September 2015 to include discounting activity, with this adjustment carried back to October 2006.
The Ministry monitors importer margins because they are an indication of the competitiveness of New Zealand’s retail fuel market. The Commerce Commission produces quarterly monitoring reports, monitoring the performance of engine fuel markets in New Zealand and analysing information provided by fuel companies.
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Retailer margins
The retail importer margin is the gross margin available to fuel retailers to cover domestic transportation, distribution, and retailing costs in New Zealand, as well as profit margins. The importer cost reflects the cost of purchasing the fuel in Singapore and shipping it to New Zealand. The calculation of importer margins was adjusted in September 2015 to include discounting activity.
The retail price series was adjusted in December 2018 to account for price differences between Auckland and the rest of the country. A weighted-average regional fuel tax was also added to the duties, taxes, and direct levies data to account for the 10 cents per litre tax applicable only in the Auckland region.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) monitors national average prices and their components, such as taxes and the cost of oil, to understand what is driving changes in the retail pump prices faced by consumers. This is part of their role in providing data and analysis on the energy sector, including monitoring prices for all energy types. The Commerce Commission also has a role in regulating the fuel industry under the Fuel Industry Act 2020, which aims to promote competition in fuel markets for the long-term benefit of consumers.
In July 2022, fuel companies' margins increased significantly, with petrol margins up from 22 cents to 45 cents per litre and diesel margins up from 30 cents to 64 cents per litre. This was due to the prices of international crude oil dropping while pump prices remained high. As a result, fuel retailers were able to pocket record margins of up to 60 cents in every litre of petrol or diesel, leading to calls for limiting "super-profits" and passing on savings to consumers.
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Frequently asked questions
The current gasoline price in New Zealand is NZD 2.70 per litre or USD 1.61 per litre.
The average fuel price in NZD is around NZD 2.42 per litre.
The average price of diesel fuel in NZD is 1.837 NZD/l as of Dec 2024.
