Fuel Tax Protest NZ plans 40-plus rallies as Government rejects tax cuts, police to monitor

More than 40 Fuel Tax Protest NZ demonstrations are planned across New Zealand.

An organiser of a nationwide fuel tax protest, who was part of the 2022 Parliamentary occupation, says upcoming demonstrations will be “peaceful and lawful”.

Driven by frustration over fuel costs, organisers are calling for fuel taxes to be reduced, future increases scrapped, and the removal of the Emissions Trading Scheme levy from petrol and diesel.

Phil Barrett, one of a small core group behind this Saturday’s Fuel Tax Protest NZ, said clear expectations had been set for attendees at more than 40 planned locations.

“I think the reality of what we’ve created is starting to dawn on us,” he said.

“We’re doing this to help the people of New Zealand.”

Police said they were aware of planned protests across the country and, while recognising the right to protest, their focus would be on safety and minimising disruption.

Fuel Tax Protest organisers are demanding the removal of the Emissions Trading Scheme levy from petrol and diesel. Photo / Annaleise Shortland

Barrett described the campaign as “organic”, with a network of regional organisers taking responsibility for how events were run in their communities.

The collective is demanding road-user charges to be halted and greater transparency over how fuel-related revenue is spent, alongside interim relief for essential sectors.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop said he had not been aware of the protest, but that it appeared to be based on “some false assumptions”.

He said the fuel tax had not changed “since the crisis began”, saying it remained at a flat rate of about 70c per litre of petrol rather than a percentage of fuel prices.

The Government had already indicated a planned increase scheduled for January 1, 2027, was “unlikely to go ahead”.

Bishop also ruled out changes to road-user charges, saying they help fund road maintenance alongside fuel taxes.

“The Government is not in a position to reduce fuel taxes in a way contemplated by the protesters,” he said.

“It would be untargeted and expensive and come at the expense of other Government priorities like improving maintenance of our roads.”

Transport Minister Chris Bishop says the Government is not contemplating changes to road-user charges. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Barrett confirmed he had travelled to Wellington for the 2022 Parliament occupation, which ended in clashes with police.

“I had a real problem with people getting forced to get vaccinated or lose their job or lose their liberty,” he said.

“It turned really nasty in the last few hours and I didn’t agree with that.”

He said lessons had been taken from that experience, and organisers were focused on ensuring this weekend’s protests remained peaceful.

Fuel Tax Protest NZ organiser Phil Barrett says he did not agree with the violence that marred the end of the Covid-19 protest at Parliament in 2022. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Barrett said the group was prepared to continue protesting beyond May 16, warning it may not remain “as friendly and as sensible” if concerns were not addressed.