METRONEWS
© New Zealand Broadcasting School 2026

by New Zealand Broadcasting School students

No help at the pump: Relief for some, others miss out on fuel relief package

Politics

Rebecca King
Fuel relief Rebecca King 26:02
Fuel relief package policy will provide an extra $50 a week to around 143,000 low- and middle-income working families  Rebecca King/NZBS

A new Government cost-of-living measure aimed at easing pressure from rising fuel prices is being welcomed by some, but others say it does little to help those already struggling to make ends meet.

The policy, announced by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis, will provide an extra $50 a week to around 143,000 low- and middle-income working families through a temporary boost to the in-work tax credit. 

For single parent Jamie Leigh Bergman, who is balancing work and studying, the extra support will provide some relief.  

“I’m a full-time student with children, if I qualify, then I'm happy, if I don’t qualify then I don’t know if that’s fair,” Bergman said.  

The support comes as global fuel prices hit an all-time high amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, pushing petrol costs higher and placing more strain on Kiwis' wallets.  

But not everyone will benefit from the scheme. 

Jennifer Churton, a retired Christchurch resident who does not qualify for the payment, said the policy is discriminatory. 

“Not everyone chooses to have children. I’ve never had children,” Churton said.  

“If my husband wasn’t still working, we wouldn’t survive. We could do with some help too.”  

Churton said the policy overlooks people without children who are also in need of support.  

Students are among the groups overlooked by the fuel relief package.  

University students Liam Duff and Willow Morris, without children, said rising living costs have made day-to-day life stressful.  

Morris told MetroNews she doesn’t think she will be able to fill up her car as fuel prices continue to rise. 

“If it keeps getting higher and income stays the same, then I won’t have enough money to fill up my car, which means I can’t go to university or I can’t go to work, and I'll have to pick one,” Morris said.   

“We’re full-time students, we can only work weekends, and we drive to school every day, back home and to work to barely make enough money to fill up the tank to just repeat the cycle all over again.”    

Labour leader Chris Hipkins described the policy as “a start” but said many Kiwis would miss out, including superannuitants, students, and those without children. 

The $50 weekly boost will apply for up to a year, or until petrol prices fall below $3 per litre for four consecutive weeks. 

While the policy may ease pressure for some households, for those missing out, the question remains, when, if ever, will relief reach them.