Fuel specifications are temporarily easing to be in line with Australia, with the Government taking advice on allowing sulphur-rich fuel into New Zealand should the situation escalate.
The change could remain in place for a year if needed, as war rages in the Middle East putting NZ imports of petrol, diesel and jet fuel under threat.
Announced by Resources Minister Shane Jones on Monday, New Zealand will align fuel standards "enabling fuel developed, refined internationally on its way to Australia, to be made available to New Zealand."
"It's a measure that aligns both the standards and it broadens the ability of us to draw fuel from a wider range of sources," he said.
Jones said it was a set of changes that did not deal with one issue; "which has excited elements in the motorist community, whether or not we would allow sulphur rich fuel into New Zealand."
While it was not the Government's intention to do so at this stage, it will take advice should the situation change, giving New Zealand an option to expand supply.
Asked if the change to fuel specifications meant that New Zealand would be allowing dirty fuel, Jones said: "I think that it's unkind of us to refer to our Aussie compatriots as dirty, in many respects, some of the specs that exist in Australia are slightly higher than what we have in New Zealand."
“The change reduces the risk of supply disruptions driven purely by technical specification differences. Fuel companies have told us this could allow them to secure shipments more quickly and from a wider pool of suppliers."
Australia itself has eased standards temporarily, the ABC reporting that could mean an increase in sulphur concentration in some of its fuel.
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