Z Energy and NGOs settle greenwashing legal claim

Today, Z Energy (Z) announces it has settled a case brought by Consumer NZ, The Environmental Law Initiative and Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Inc in 2023. The settlement was made with no admission of liability, and no payment was made to either Z or the plaintiffs. Z does not consider that its advertising was misleading. The plaintiffs’ have a contrary opinion. The parties have agreed to disagree.  

Z has apologised for any confusion caused by parts of its Moving with the Times ad campaigns, which was launched in 2022. The plaintiffs have withdrawn their claim.

Z’s CEO Lindis Jones says, “We’re pleased to have resolved this matter. This case gives us all the opportunity to reflect on how we operate and maintain ambition, while in the energy transition".

“We are committed to our communications being accurate and aligned with our values so that Kiwi can understand our aspirations and the challenges of the energy transition.”

"Z continues to deliver the fuel our customers need and is focussed on where it considers it is best placed to contribute to the energy transition, being the roll out of a public EV charging network and EV charging infrastructure solutions for businesses.”

"Each week we're proud to serve over 1 million Kiwi at Z sites across the country. Our aim is to provide a secure supply of fuel and continue to roll out reliable EV charging infrastructure to keep our customers and the economy moving."

“I’m proud of the role Z plays in Aotearoa New Zealand. We’ve always been focused on getting customers where they need to go, however they choose.”

Notes:

• Z Energy, Consumer NZ, The Environmental Law Initiative and Lawyers for Climate Action NZ have all agreed to settlement of this case. 
• The settlement was made with no admission of liability and no payment was made to either side.  
• Z does not consider that its advertising was misleading. The plaintiffs’ have a contrary opinion. The parties have agreed to disagree.
• Z’s position on the four key claims from the case are as follows:
• Biofuels:
  • Z spent $50 million between 2010 and 2018 to build and run a biofuel manufacturing plant, without government assistance.
  • When Z made its decision in July 2022 to permanently close the plant, it still intended to move toward importing models to meet the government’s expected biofuel mandate. However, the government at the time cancelled the biofuel mandate. As a result, Z has instead currently chosen to focus its resources on the EV charging rollout, which it considers is where it is best placed to contribute to the energy transition.
• Emissions:
  • Since 2017, Z has had a target for reducing its operational emissions – those Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions Z has the most control or influence over and can therefore take meaningful action to reduce. For example, this includes Scope 3 emissions from fuel deliveries within Aotearoa New Zealand, over which Z has a degree of influence, but excludes emissions from fuels sold to and used by customers.
  • Z has reported voluntarily on its greenhouse gas emissions since 2012.  Z reports separately on its operational emissions and its scope 3 emissions from fuel sold to customers.
  • We know as a transport energy company the fuel we sell to our customers releases greenhouse gas emissions. We want to play our part in the transition to a low emissions economy and are working to make it easier for Kiwi to choose lower emissions transport, currently focused on public EV charging.
• EV charging:
  • Z currently has 192 EV charging bays across 58 sites (as at October 2025).
  • Approximately $42 million invested in EV charging infrastructure between 2022 and 2024.
  • Z’s high speed public charging network is now New Zealand’s second largest by kWs available for customers and total number of charging bays.  We continue to grow the network.
• Getting Out statement:
  • The tagline “we’re in the business of getting out of the petrol business” was not itself a key element of the Moving With The Times campaign, and the majority of the Moving With The Times advertising – including significant TV, radio and outdoor advertising – did not include it.
  • The tagline was a headline of an ad that had a lot of information. It was designed to be provocative and bold, but contained express acknowledgements that the transition was “not simple. And it won’t happen as fast as many of us want”.
  • The tagline was made against the background of, and informed by, significant strategic and financial commitments by Z to invest to transition towards a lower carbon business.