New Zealand:  Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today that the government will reduce fuel prices by 25 cents per litre for three months as part of a cost-of-living package aimed at providing immediate relief to Kiwi families during the current global energy crisis precipitated by the war in Ukraine.

As part of a package of measures to relieve transportation expense constraints on middle and low-income households, fuel excise fees and road user charges will each be decreased by 25 cents, and the cost of public transportation would be halved.

"We can't control the war in Ukraine or the continuous volatility of fuel costs," Jacinda Ardern said, "but we can take efforts to lessen the impact on New Zealand households." "Just as it was our responsibility to bring New Zealand through the Covid-19 health crisis, it is now our responsibility to put in place a plan to get us through the global energy crisis as well." There is no silver bullet that will bring down the cost of living, but we have a strategy in place and are putting it into action, which will assist to make a difference.

The global oil crisis has fast worsened, prompting the government to intervene and lower fuel taxes. Today's improvements will save you more than USD 11 on a 40-litre tank of gas, and more than USD 17 on a 60-litre tank.

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