Fuel crisis: Gisborne service stations run out of 91 petrol

The fighting in the Middle East is having local consequences, as 91-octane petrol ran out at Pak'nSave Gisborne on Wednesday. Photo / James Pocock

Two service stations in Gisborne have run out of 91 octane petrol this afternoon.

Signs were up on pumps at the Z Service Station on Gladstone Rd and the Pak’nSave Gisborne fuel station on Cobden St at 3pm, letting customers know they were unavailable.

A sign outside the Pak’nSave Gisborne fuel station said 91 octane petrol was “temporarily out of stock”.

“However, you can safely run your car on 95 as an alternative,” the sign read.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

A Z Energy spokesperson said the company was “closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East”.

“Due to a material increase in demand, we have seen a higher number of stock shortages across our network of service stations and truck stops. In most cases, the outages are brief, with fuel supplies generally being replenished within hours,” they said.

“Our teams are working efficiently and safely to move product through the network and restore supply to impacted sites as soon as viably possible.

“As a local company, we remain committed to prioritising the fuel needs of our New Zealand customers.”

Foodstuffs has been approached for comment.

Marc Paumig said he was surprised to find 91 petrol had run out at Gisborne’s Z service station on Gladstone Rd.

The sales consultant was filling up a Nissan Juke for a client and had to go with 95.

“This car should be 91, but there is no 91, so I might as well go for 95,” Paumig said.

“I guess everyone is really scared at the moment that they can’t afford petrol.

“It’s hard times for everyone.”