This is a ongoing structured exploration of New Zealand’s liquid fuel system.
Fuel system information is often fragmented across sources and organisations. This aims to bring those pieces together to help clarify how the system fits as a whole and where vulnerabilities may exist.
With a clearer structure and shared overview, this framework supports:
Refinery Origins
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Fuel Import Sources
Primarily Singapore (~80%), with additional supply from South Korea and Japan.
Fuel Import Terminals
Four main import terminals across New Zealand (with only one in the South Island), alongside additional production and storage sites.
Pipelines and Storage
An initial mapping of pipeline infrastructure and storage tank types.
Organisations
Key entities involved in importing, distribution, refining, and logistics.
Resource Library
Relevant publications, research, and supporting material.
Risks
A structured view of potential system vulnerabilities and disruption scenarios.
….and more.
The data is collected into the following tables.
[liqf] Dependencies on Liquid Fuel
[liqf] Fuel Import/Production Terminals in NZ
[liqf] Fuel Rating or Variations
[liqf] Types or Size of Storage Tanks
[liqf] Glossary for Fuel Industry
[liqf] Validated Links and PDFs
This is a working reference and thinking tool, built from publicly available information.
It is not guaranteed to be complete and will evolve over time.
This framework was developed by Sam Ragnarsson and Chad Payne through Rongo, as part of ongoing work exploring systems, dependencies, and resilience across critical infrastructure.
It also reflects broader lines of thinking connected to collaborative initiatives such as Islands for the Future of Humanity (IFH), where similar questions of system understanding, vulnerability, and long-term readiness are being explored.
This material is provided in good faith as a working reference and exploratory framework, based on publicly available information.
While care has been taken, accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed.
If you identify any errors or have additional information, contributions are welcome.
If you have additional data, insights, reports, or corrections, feel free to get in touch:
This section provides a more visual and contextual walkthrough of the system, complementing the structured databases above.
While the databases offer detailed, sortable views, this layer is designed to help quickly understand how components fit together and interact.
Each major port has large fuel storage terminals. These terminals:
It is important to keep in mind the various different fuel types that are in use, and keep in mind the importance of their readiness on import, their usage, their risk, and their adaptability.
Here are some of the sectors that can’t operate without Liquid fuels currently. With attention often on emergency services, flights and shipping, it is worth to also remember that almost all other facets of our society rely on liquid fuel as well, such as agriculture and fishing, both in the vital food production.