Year to date · 39 weeks
Petrol prices in 2026
Regular 91 averaged 298.1c a litre in 2026 so far, diesel 266.9c.
2026 at the pump
War in the Middle East from 28 February set the shape of 2026 so far: 91 averaged 298.1c over 39 weeks and diesel 266.9c. The 94.5c range ran from 252.3c (20 February) to 346.8c (10 April); the year closed at 334.5c on 25 September. Biggest weekly rise: +31.9c in the week to 20 March. Biggest fall: −11.8c in the week to 24 April.
Crude, dollar and margin
MBIE's Dubai benchmark averaged US$91 in 2026; one NZ dollar bought US58.5 cents. On MBIE's numbers the 2026 margin on 91 was 34.6c a litre. 95 carried a 14.8c premium over regular in 2026.
Tax lines and the diesel gap
The government share of a 2026 litre of 91 averaged 127.6c, or 43%. The 91 tax line held at 77.4c all through 2026. 31.2c separated 91 and diesel on average in 2026. For diesel: 186.7c at the bottom (20 February), 381.0c at the top (17 April).
Every week of 2026
| Week to | 91 | 95 | Diesel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Sep 2026 | 334.5 | 348.6 | 308.1 |
| 18 Sep 2026 | 315.9 | 330.7 | 287.1 |
| 11 Sep 2026 | 302.2 | 317.8 | 272.0 |
| 4 Sep 2026 | 296.7 | 312.3 | 266.9 |
| 28 Aug 2026 | 297.9 | 313.3 | 268.1 |
| 21 Aug 2026 | 298.0 | 313.7 | 267.4 |
| 14 Aug 2026 | 298.8 | 314.4 | 267.3 |
| 7 Aug 2026 | 300.8 | 316.5 | 268.9 |
| 31 Jul 2026 | 298.6 | 314.3 | 262.9 |
| 24 Jul 2026 | 292.0 | 307.5 | 249.5 |
| 17 Jul 2026 | 290.5 | 306.0 | 240.1 |
| 10 Jul 2026 | 292.7 | 308.4 | 240.9 |
| 3 Jul 2026 | 296.1 | 311.2 | 248.2 |
| 26 Jun 2026 | 301.0 | 316.8 | 261.3 |
| 19 Jun 2026 | 309.8 | 325.7 | 281.2 |
| 12 Jun 2026 | 317.1 | 332.9 | 299.5 |
| 5 Jun 2026 | 322.2 | 337.8 | 309.7 |
| 29 May 2026 | 324.8 | 340.6 | 314.8 |
| 22 May 2026 | 324.4 | 339.9 | 315.7 |
| 15 May 2026 | 322.2 | 337.8 | 318.7 |
| 8 May 2026 | 323.0 | 339.4 | 324.5 |
| 1 May 2026 | 322.5 | 338.9 | 330.2 |
| 24 Apr 2026 | 330.3 | 346.7 | 349.8 |
| 17 Apr 2026 | 342.1 | 358.8 | 381.0 |
| 10 Apr 2026 | 346.8 | 362.3 | 380.2 |
| 3 Apr 2026 | 340.2 | 355.6 | 352.7 |
| 27 Mar 2026 | 335.2 | 350.5 | 328.8 |
| 20 Mar 2026 | 313.9 | 327.0 | 286.4 |
| 13 Mar 2026 | 282.1 | 293.9 | 234.8 |
| 6 Mar 2026 | 258.0 | 271.1 | 195.0 |
| 27 Feb 2026 | 252.9 | 265.7 | 187.2 |
| 20 Feb 2026 | 252.3 | 265.4 | 186.7 |
| 13 Feb 2026 | 252.8 | 265.7 | 186.9 |
| 6 Feb 2026 | 253.7 | 266.2 | 187.1 |
| 30 Jan 2026 | 254.3 | 267.1 | 188.0 |
| 23 Jan 2026 | 254.8 | 268.4 | 188.6 |
| 16 Jan 2026 | 255.9 | 269.8 | 189.7 |
| 9 Jan 2026 | 257.9 | 271.6 | 191.4 |
| 2 Jan 2026 | 259.4 | 272.7 | 192.3 |
The war that began on 28 February set this year's shape; prices through the 2026 shock follows it week by week.
2026 questions
2026: what did a litre cost?
Averaging 39 weeks: 91 at 298.1c, diesel at 266.9c, 95 at 312.9c.
2026: when was fuel dearest?
10 April 2026 for 91 at 346.8c; 17 April 2026 for diesel at 381.0c.