Navy helps as NZ battles jet-fuel crisis

A NEW Zealand navy vessel will ferry fuel around the country as the Government rushes to alleviate a fuel shortage that has caused air travel chaos in the run-up to tomorrow’s national election.

The ship would transport up to 4.8 million litres of fuel — 150 tankers — to enable industry to focus on providing jet fuel to crisis-hit Auckland airport, Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins said.

More than 120 flights have been cancelled in New Zealand’s largest city this week, disrupting thousands of travellers a day after the single privately owned pipeline that carries jet fuel from a refinery to the city’s airport was damaged by a digger.

“The Government will continue to do everything it can to support industry efforts to address the disruption,” Ms Collins said.

A further 14 flights were cancelled yesterday, according to Auckland Airport, but that was less than half the number of flights cancelled on Wednesday.

The crisis has become a headache for the ruling National Party, which is battling it out with the newly invigorated Labour Party to form the next government.

Jacinda Ardern, who has almost single-handedly boosted Labour’s chances since taking over the leadership in August, has criticised the Government for not having taken measures to avoid the kind of infrastructure failure that caused the fuel shortage.

Qantas made two flights from Australia, nicknamed “fuel mules”, carrying fuel to top up Jetstar and Qantas aircraft in Auckland.