28 April 2026
A message to our customers
Dear valued customer,
EEK Mechanical coordinates a nationwide network of independent automotive workshops to deliver misfuel recovery and drain-and-fill services across New Zealand. When you put the wrong fuel in your vehicle, we connect you with a local workshop that can drain the system, flush the lines, and get you back on the road. Every job involves real people — local, independent operators — facing exactly the same cost pressures as you.
Our team apologises that, as a result of the Iran war affecting business conditions in New Zealand, costs across every part of our supply chain have been pushed up. We thank you for your understanding that this impact is entirely outside our control — as it is for all New Zealand businesses. We all look forward to the day conditions normalise and we are able to bring prices back down.
What has changed, and why
Fuel and towing costs+20%
The Iran war, which began in February 2026, triggered the largest disruption to global oil supply in recorded history. Westpac economists estimated Brent crude could reach USD $185/barrel under a sustained Strait of Hormuz closure. In New Zealand, diesel prices rose from NZD $1.91/litre in April 2025 to $3.81/litre by 20 April 2026 — a 99.5% increase in twelve months and the highest pump price on record (MBIE/GlobalPetrolPrices.com). Stats NZ confirmed the March 2026 monthly rise of 42.6% was the largest since records began in 2011. Diesel is the primary operating cost for every vehicle in our workshop network. Road freight carriers nationally have raised fuel charges by more than 30% (Rocket Freight/RNZ). Our 20% adjustment on towing and kilometre charges is a fraction of what our operators have actually absorbed.
Labour rates+15%
New Zealand's annual inflation rate is 3.1% (Stats NZ, March 2026 quarter) — above the Reserve Bank's 1–3% target band and driven by the fuel price shock flowing through the economy. Infometrics forecasts inflation rising to 4.8% in the current quarter as war-related costs embed themselves in prices across all sectors. "After three years of weak demand conditions, firms have limited scope to absorb current cost increases," said Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan. Skilled tradespeople are in demand as businesses compete for a shrinking qualified workforce. Our 15% labour rate adjustment reflects this environment and is necessary to retain the experienced operators our customers deserve.
Fuel disposal and hazardous materials+30%
The same diesel price surge that has affected towing costs flows directly and unavoidably into disposal costs. The tankers, vacuum trucks, and transport equipment used to extract and safely dispose of contaminated fuel all run on diesel. With pump prices nearly doubling since April 2025, the licensed contractors our workshops engage for hazardous waste disposal have had no choice but to pass on those costs. This is a direct, documented flow-on effect of the Iran war on fuel-dependent services.
Filters, freight & supply chain+30%
The Iran conflict has thrown New Zealand's supply chains into chaos. Emirates — the largest air freight operator serving New Zealand — halted operations following the conflict's escalation. Remaining carriers immediately imposed war and fuel surcharges. International shipping lines introduced war risk surcharges of up to 50% on marine policies, while vessels rerouted around southern Africa added up to 40 days to transit times. Mainfreight confirmed major carriers including Maersk, MSC, and CMA CGM implemented emergency fuel surcharges, in some cases retroactively. Road freight operators nationally raised fuel charges by over 30%. Automotive filters and parts imported via these routes are directly affected. Our 30% adjustment on filters, freight, and sundries reflects these verifiable, sourced cost increases.
Platform & compliance fee$275
From 1 April 2026, we record every misfuel disposal event in New Zealand on the National Misfuel Register, maintained by NZIFDA. Workshops cannot file on the register independently — they must operate through a certified Tier 1 Compliant Operator. EEK holds this certification. As your Compliant Operator, EEK pays the per-job NZIFDA filing fee on your behalf and monitors every workshop in our network to ensure they continue to meet all legal requirements — OEM-prescribed fuel removal methods, Dangerous Goods licensing, hazardous waste tracking, and the disposal documentation your insurer requires if you ever make a claim. If you engage an NZIFDA Certified workshop, that workshop would still be required to file — and would charge you the filing fee separately, at their own rate. Because EEK coordinates jobs at scale across our network, we secure a consolidated filing rate and include it in this single, transparent line item. The fee also covers our payment processing infrastructure and coordination platform. We disclose it separately on every invoice so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
What has not changed
Our booking deposit remains $849. We have not increased this.
Our commitment to supporting local New Zealand workshops has not changed. The businesses in our network are family-owned operations — not corporate franchises. They are run by people who live in your community, employ local staff, and keep money circulating in local economies. AA Insurance — part of the AA group that operates the largest competing roadside network in New Zealand — reported a profit of $108.2 million in its 2024 financial year, nearly tripling year-on-year. When you choose EEK Mechanical, your payment goes directly to a local workshop owner, not a corporate balance sheet.
It is also our view — and we want to be clear this is opinion, not a proven fact — that large fuel retailers have been slow to pass on price reductions when global oil costs ease, while being quick to raise prices when they rise. The Commerce Commission has stated it "will not hesitate to call out unjustified price increases" and is actively monitoring fuel company margins. The Green Party has called on fuel companies to pass on reductions more quickly. Ordinary New Zealanders and small businesses are bearing the full brunt of the oil shock. We believe the contrast with some of the largest companies in the fuel supply chain is worth naming.
Transparency and your rights
All pricing is disclosed upfront. Our full rate card is available at www.eek.nz/rate-card. Final invoiced amounts reflect actual job complexity and are always provided before payment is required.
If you have a question about your invoice or these changes, please contact us through your customer portal or call 0800 769 000. We are always willing to talk through our pricing with you.
Again, we apologise for the increases and thank you for your understanding.
Warm regards,
The EEK Mechanical Team
0800 769 000 · www.eek.nz