Petrol tax in NZ: what you pay per litre
The fixed duties and levies on a litre of Petrol 91 or Petrol 95 currently total 77.254 cents before GST. On a 40 litre fill, that is $30.90 before GST.
What makes up the 77.254 cents?
The official rates, correct from 13 July 2026, are:
- 70.024 cents for the National Land Transport Fund
- 6 cents for the ACC motor vehicle levy
- 0.57 cents for the fuel monitoring levy
- 0.66 cents for local authorities
These figures come from the government's current fuel duties and levies table. They apply equally to regular 91 and premium 95 petrol.
GST comes on top
The 77.254 cent figure excludes GST. GST is charged at 15% on the final retail price, including the duties and levies already inside it. That means the total tax amount per litre changes when the pump price changes.
The retail price also includes an emissions cost. It moves separately from the fixed duties above, so a single percentage for the total tax share quickly becomes out of date.
Why diesel looks cheaper at the pump
Diesel does not carry the 70.024 cent petrol duty. Most diesel vehicles pay for road use separately through road user charges. A lower diesel pump price therefore does not automatically mean the vehicle is cheaper to run.
Our diesel versus petrol guide explains the costs that need to be compared.
Can petrol tax change next week's price?
It can, but only when the government changes a rate. Those decisions are announced rather than predicted, and they can move the pump price independently of the usual market changes.
When the tax rates stay fixed, the more immediate question is whether the rest of the pump price is likely to rise or fall. That is where the weekly forecast is useful.
Check the fuel price forecast for next week and the week after →
Rates checked 2 October 2026. Always use the linked official table for the latest announced rates.