What you need to know
Road users help pay for New Zealand’s land transport system through petrol excise duty (PED) or road user charges (RUC). The rates of PED and RUC are specified in legislation and money raised goes into the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF), which helps fund the improvement, operation and maintenance of our land transport system.
RUC is paid mainly by users of diesel vehicles. It is not paid at the pump and is instead purchased from Waka Kotahi or approved agents in advance of kilometres travelled.
In response to the rising fuel prices, the Government has temporarily reduced the petrol excise duty and RUC rates.
The work to date
Extending fuel excise duty and public transport fares reductions, and reintroducing reduced rates of road user charges
In response to continued high fuel prices placing pressure on household budgets, the Government has extended the temporary transport support measures:
Ending the reductions to petrol excise duty, road user charges and public transport fares
The Government has announced the end dates for the temporary transport measures. It has been announced:
Petrol excise duty, road user charges and public transport fares reduced for two more months
Further extension on temporary reductions to petrol excise duty, road user charges and public transport fares
Taking action on fuel prices – temporarily reducing petrol excise duty and road user charges
Fuel prices increased substantially across the globe and in New Zealand following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and increased demand as the world recovers from COVID.
In response, the Government announced a three-month reduction to petrol excise duty and road user charges to help support families and businesses facing higher fuel costs.
2018/19 increases to PED and RUC took effect
PED increased by 3.5 cents per litre on 30 September 2018 and RUC increased by around 9.7% on 1 October 2018.
2020/21 increases to petrol excise duty and road user charges took effect
On 1 July 2020, PED increased 3.5 cents per litre and RUC was increased by 5.3%.
2019/20 increases to PED and RUC took effect
On 1 July 2019, PED increased by 3.5 cents per litre and RUC increased by about 5.5%.
Increases to PED and RUC announced for next 3 years
On 28 June 2018, the Government announced increases in PED and RUC over 3 years. They came into effect on 30 September 2018, 1 July 2019 and 1 July 2020.