Government cancels planned 2027 fuel tax and road user charge increases

Monday 31 August 2026 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated Mon 31 Aug, 2:20pm

In this story Christopher Luxon, Nicola Willis

The Government has scrapped a 12c per litre fuel excise increase scheduled for January 2027. Instead, a smaller increase of five cents per litre is expected to take effect from January 1, 2028, supported by a $1.476b top-up to the National Land Transport Fund.

How they headlined it

2:15pm

1. NZ HeraldMon 31 Aug, 2:15pm

   Govt scraps 2027 fuel tax hike, brings in new scheme for future hikes (opens in new tab)

2. StuffMon 31 Aug, 2:16pm

   Government cancels fuel tax hike planned for 2027 (opens in new tab)

3. 1NewsMon 31 Aug, 2:20pm

   Govt scraps 2027 fuel excise increase, smaller rises from 2028 (opens in new tab)