After several weeks of irregular movements and tighter scheduling windows, the latest shipping activity is starting to resemble a more stable and normal fuel distribution pattern around New Zealand.
What stands out in this latest update is the clear reappearance of two separate but co-joined distribution routes moving product around the country. That is generally how a healthy import-based fuel network should operate.
The northern route continues to feed down through Marsden Point, Tauranga and Wellington, while the southern movements are now showing better continuity through Lyttelton, Timaru, Dunedin and Bluff.
At this stage, the overall schedule appears considerably healthier than some of the quieter periods seen earlier in the month.
Marsden Point Activity Remains Steady
Marsden Point continues seeing a consistent flow of international arrivals.
Current scheduled arrivals include:
- Chang Hang Fei Yue arriving from Singapore on 27 May
- Forever Glory arriving from Malaysia on 1 June
- PS Sydney arriving from Korea on 2 June
- TP Endurance arriving from Japan on 5 June
- Gordons Bay arriving from Onsan, Korea on 11 June
The continuing mix of Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and Korean supply points highlights how dependent New Zealand remains on Asian refining hubs following the closure of domestic refining capacity.
Tauranga Continues Acting As Major Redistribution Hub
Tauranga remains heavily active as a secondary distribution point.
Key movements include:
- Hafnia Mikala arriving from Yeosu, Korea
- TP Endurance continuing southbound toward Napier
- Chang Hang Fei Yue cycling through Timaru before returning north
- Challenge Prime entering the system mid-June
This ongoing cycling of vessels between ports reflects the co-joined coastal redistribution network currently operating around the country.
Southern Network No Longer Quiet
One of the more important observations this week is that Dunedin and Bluff are no longer showing the quieter patterns seen previously.
That matters because reduced southern activity can sometimes indicate uneven coastal distribution or delayed replenishment cycles.
Current southern movements include:
- Oriental Aquamarine moving through Lyttelton, Timaru and Dunedin
- Hafnia Petrel scheduled into Bluff on 1 June
- Pacific Sunstone entering Timaru from Papeete
From my perspective, these movements look much more like a normal operating pattern.
Wellington And Nelson Continue Their Coastal Role
Wellington and Nelson continue functioning as important transfer points within the wider network.
The Stena Convoy continues progressing through Napier, Wellington and New Plymouth while Hafnia Mikala and Challenge Prime continue feeding product movements through the upper South Island.
These coastal transfers are important because New Zealand’s fuel security now relies heavily on continuous successful coastal redistribution after imports arrive.
Final Monthly Charts Will Tell The Full Story
At this stage, the month-end picture is still developing.
The final distribution charts on the 31st will provide a much clearer indication of overall import volumes and national product movement for May.
But based on the current vessel activity, the system appears considerably more balanced than earlier periods where shipping schedules looked thinner and more fragmented.
For now, the latest movements suggest the distribution network is functioning closer to how a normal month should look.
Current Shipping Schedule Snapshot
Marsden Point
- Chang Hang Fei Yue ETA 27/05/2026 from Singapore
- Forever Glory ETA 01/06/2026 from Malaysia
- PS Sydney ETA 02/06/2026 from Korea
- TP Endurance ETA 05/06/2026 from Anegasaki Japan
- Gordons Bay ETA 11/06/2026 from Onsan Korea
Tauranga
- Hafnia Mikala ETA 30/05/2026 from Yeosu Korea
- Chang Hang Kai Tuo ETA 27/05/2026 from Nelson
- Chang Hang Fei Yue ETA 05/06/2026 from Timaru
- TP Endurance ETA 08/06/2026 from Marsden Point
- Challenge Prime ETA 16/06/2026 from Nelson
Wellington
- Chang Hang Kai Tuo ETA 29/05/2026 from Tanjung Malaysia
- Hafnia Mikala ETA early June from Tauranga
- Challenge Prime ETA 11/06/2026 from Daesan Korea
South Island Ports
- Oriental Aquamarine ETA 08/06/2026 Christchurch
- Oriental Aquamarine ETA 10/06/2026 Timaru
- Oriental Aquamarine ETA 11/06/2026 Dunedin
- Hafnia Petrel ETA 01/06/2026 Bluff
The system is still heavily reliant on uninterrupted international supply chains and successful coastal redistribution.
But compared with some previous weeks, this latest schedule looks much more like a properly functioning national fuel network.
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Dave Trotter is an independent Fuel Compilation Analyst and founder of Marsden Point News Radio. He tracks fuel tanker movements in and out of New Zealand using real-time shipping and port data following the Marsden Point Refinery closure. His work provides a factual, ground-level view of NZ’s fuel supply, focusing on imports, storage, and distribution across multiple ports. Dave publishes regular updates at www.davidtrotter.co.nz and via Telegram.