Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has filed formal parliamentary questions and Official Information Act requests demanding the Government release the full picture of New Zealand’s fuel supply outlook including what Shane Jones knew, and when.

“Whānau in Aotearoa are paying 90 cents more per litre for fuel. Households and small businesses are trying to make decisions based on what this Government tells them.

They deserve the truth, not managed messaging,” said Ngarewa-Packer.

“I’m asking Shane Jones directly, how many ships are contractually confirmed for May and June? Not hoped for. Not expected. Confirmed. Because the gap between what MBIE publishes and what’s actually locked in is where the real risk lives and rural Māori communities will feel that risk first and hardest.”

Ngarewa-Packer has also requested through the OIA all internal MBIE modelling on diesel supply vulnerability, the Cabinet paper behind the Australian fuel harmonisation announcement, and all communications with fuel companies about forward supply.

“Harmonising with Australia sounds like action. But Australia is already facing cancellations from the same suppliers we depend on. Today we’re queuing behind them, tomorrow we could be next”. Removing a technical barrier is not the same as solving a supply problem and Jones knows that.”

Jones has been Associate Energy Minister for over two years. He had options and warnings. Instead he has championed offshore drilling and Fast-track extraction approvals while doing nothing to build this nation’s energy resilience, no strategic reserves, no renewable transition for rural communities, no plan for the whānau now rationing diesel.

And while whānau foot the riding costs, the Government’s relief package excludes many of those hit hardest workers, students, superannuates, beneficiaries and rural households who depend most on fuel and have nowhere else to turn.

“What’s the plan, Shane? The Joker speaks fewer riddles than you

Te Pāti Māori will continue to scrutinise the Government’s fuel response and ensure Māori and rural communities are not left last in line.

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