The New Zealand government's contingency plan for a severe fuel crisis includes a proposal to reduce the national open road speed limit to 80km/h, a measure that was detailed in a Ministry of Transport impact statement but omitted from a recent ministerial announcement. Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Regulation Minister David Seymour focused their May 20 joint announcement on heavy vehicle regulatory relief, but a spokesperson confirmed the speed limit reduction remains part of Phase Four of the National Fuel Response Plan. This phase, the most extreme, would be triggered by a severe and prolonged fuel shortage and would also involve fuel rationing at pumps and spot checks on businesses.