The country’s fuel supplies have ticked up slightly as efforts to end the war in Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz appear at a standstill.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said as of April 26 there was 52.8 days of petrol, 46.1 days of diesel and 49.1 days of jet fuel either in the country or on the way to New Zealand.

The ministry says fuel stocks are stable and sufficient stock levels and “remain well above the minimum requirements”.

“The supply chain is operating smoothly, and fuel is continuing to flow into the country as expected,” it said.

"Fuel importers have provided good confidence through confirmed orders to mid-June, with planned orders extending into July."

The previous update, as of April 22, showed there were 51.8 days of petrol, 41.3 days of diesel and 45.7 days of jet fuel either in the country or on the way.

It comes as the Government reveals a deal with Z Energy to procure 90 million litres of fuel – the equivalent of an additional nine days’ supply.

On Monday, the Government also announced it was preparing to remove or suspend regulatory barriers to help ease the burden of the persistent fuel crisis.

After seeking public feedback, the Government is refining some vehicle regulations that make it harder for businesses and communities to cope with global fuel shocks.

Last week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis addressed some of the potential impacts of the fuel crisis on economic recovery, which had “delayed but not derailed”. She stressed these were scenarios prepared by Treasury, not forecasts.

Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.