What was the price of fuel in 1990 in New Zealand?
In 1990, regular petrol averaged $0.96 per litre and retail diesel averaged $0.71 per litre in nominal New Zealand dollars.
NEW ZEALAND FUEL PRICE HISTORY
NZ Petrol & Diesel Prices by Year
Find out what regular petrol and retail diesel cost in New Zealand in any year from 1984 to 2024, using annual average price data published by MBIE.
What did fuel cost in a particular year?
Regular petrol price history in New Zealand
Nominal annual average price in New Zealand dollars per litre.
Historical fuel price answers
These examples are written out so the historical figures are easy to find and understand.
What was the price of fuel in 2000 in New Zealand?
In 2000, regular petrol averaged $1.07 per litre and retail diesel averaged $0.73 per litre in nominal New Zealand dollars.
What was the price of fuel in 2007 in New Zealand?
In 2007, regular petrol averaged $1.54 per litre and retail diesel averaged $1.05 per litre in nominal New Zealand dollars.
What was the price of fuel in 2008 in New Zealand?
In 2008, regular petrol averaged $1.81 per litre and retail diesel averaged $1.45 per litre in nominal New Zealand dollars.
What was the price of fuel in 2010 in New Zealand?
In 2010, regular petrol averaged $1.77 per litre and retail diesel averaged $1.17 per litre in nominal New Zealand dollars.
What was the price of fuel in 2020 in New Zealand?
In 2020, regular petrol averaged $1.92 per litre and retail diesel averaged $1.21 per litre in nominal New Zealand dollars.
What was the price of fuel in 2022 in New Zealand?
In 2022, regular petrol averaged $2.68 per litre and retail diesel averaged $2.44 per litre in nominal New Zealand dollars.
What was the price of fuel in 2024 in New Zealand?
In 2024, regular petrol averaged $2.66 per litre and retail diesel averaged $1.99 per litre in nominal New Zealand dollars.
New Zealand petrol and diesel prices: 1984–2024
Prices below are nominal annual averages — the actual dollars motorists paid at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
| Year | Regular petrol | Retail diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | $0.75/L | $0.69/L |
| 1985 | $0.91/L | $0.70/L |
| 1986 | $0.80/L | $0.63/L |
| 1987 | $0.88/L | $0.69/L |
| 1988 | $0.88/L | $0.70/L |
| 1989 | $0.88/L | $0.63/L |
| 1990 | $0.96/L | $0.71/L |
| 1991 | $0.95/L | $0.56/L |
| 1992 | $0.97/L | $0.57/L |
| 1993 | $0.95/L | $0.55/L |
| 1994 | $0.90/L | $0.52/L |
| 1995 | $0.90/L | $0.51/L |
| 1996 | $0.90/L | $0.53/L |
| 1997 | $0.91/L | $0.55/L |
| 1998 | $0.85/L | $0.48/L |
| 1999 | $0.85/L | $0.50/L |
| 2000 | $1.07/L | $0.73/L |
| 2001 | $1.05/L | $0.72/L |
| 2002 | $1.03/L | $0.64/L |
| 2003 | $1.05/L | $0.62/L |
| 2004 | $1.16/L | $0.73/L |
| 2005 | $1.32/L | $0.90/L |
| 2006 | $1.55/L | $1.13/L |
| 2007 | $1.54/L | $1.05/L |
| 2008 | $1.81/L | $1.45/L |
| 2009 | $1.60/L | $1.02/L |
| 2010 | $1.77/L | $1.17/L |
| 2011 | $2.06/L | $1.49/L |
| 2012 | $2.09/L | $1.50/L |
| 2013 | $2.10/L | $1.47/L |
| 2014 | $2.08/L | $1.41/L |
| 2015 | $1.88/L | $1.14/L |
| 2016 | $1.76/L | $1.01/L |
| 2017 | $1.89/L | $1.18/L |
| 2018 | $2.10/L | $1.43/L |
| 2019 | $2.10/L | $1.45/L |
| 2020 | $1.92/L | $1.21/L |
| 2021 | $2.21/L | $1.48/L |
| 2022 | $2.68/L | $2.44/L |
| 2023 | $2.63/L | $2.14/L |
| 2024 | $2.66/L | $1.99/L |
Source: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Energy Prices. Regular petrol and retail diesel prices include applicable taxes and levies; retail prices include GST.
Are these prices adjusted for inflation?
No. These are nominal historical prices, which makes them appropriate for questions such as “what was the price of diesel in 1990?” For comparing how expensive fuel felt relative to today, use the inflation calculator alongside these figures.
About the data
MBIE publishes New Zealand energy price data in cents per litre and provides calendar-year figures in both nominal and inflation-adjusted terms. This page uses the nominal annual-average series for regular petrol and retail diesel.