Govt seeks new gas supply for schools, hospitals and other agencies in a tight market

Gas demand exceeding supply squeezes small users like schools, hospitals and prisons. (Image: NZME)

Tue, 01 Apr 2025

The Government has begun a tender to find gas for schools, hospitals and other agencies in what remains a tight market.Last year, officials managed to scramble together a last-minute deal to ensure supply after there was no interest from suppliers or intermediaries.That deal was set to expire in September 2024 after the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) had unsuccessfully sought tenders a year earlier.This was one of the first public signs that dwindling gas production was creating a scramble for the fuel that was ava...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

On the Money

On the Money: Luxon v the sharks, Nick Lissette, and more

This week was a surprisingly cringeworthy one, even by OTM's standards.

Dileepa Fonseka 5:00am

World

Carlyle’s AlpInvest banks US$20b for secondary deals

Secondary funds are growing exponentially larger.

The Wall Street Journal 5:00am

Carlyle’s AlpInvest banks US$20b for secondary deals

Bloomberg

EU pushes ahead trade deal with South American nations

Countries fear the deal’s impact on the European agricultural sector.

Bloomberg 5:00am

EU pushes ahead trade deal with South American nations

Sponsored

Free AI training blitz targets 10,000 Kiwis

Workshops aim to close NZ’s AI skills gap and boost productivity – no tech skills required.

Sponsored by Lumify

Sponsored

Are employers doing enough to prepare workers to retire well?

When one third of the New Zealand workforce is aged 55 or older – are employers doing enough to help them prepare for retirement?

Moneyfit

More Energy

Law & Regulation

New deal to improve gas market transparency

Fast-dwindling gas supplies are creating new challenges for electricity production.

Staff reporters 04 Sep 2025

News in Brief

Aotearoa Energy executes NZ’s first exchange-traded gas option

Aotearoa Energy, a division of TP ICAP, executed New Zealand’s first exchange-traded gas option on emsTradepoint, the platform for physical natural gas settlement and matching operated by Transpower NZ.“This achievement was realised following Aotearoa Energy’s close collaboration...

Rebecca Howard 04 Sep 2025