NZ calls in navy to beat fuel shortage

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A New Zealand navy vessel will ferry diesel fuel around the country as the government rushes to alleviate a dayslong fuel shortage that has cast air travel into disarray in the run-up to Saturday's national election.

The ship would transport up to 4.8 million liters of diesel - equivalent to 150 tankers - to enable industry to focus on providing jet fuel to crisis-hit Auckland airport, Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins said on Thursday.

More than 120 flights have been canceled in New Zealand's largest city this week, disrupting thousands of travelers each day after damage to the single privately owned pipeline that carries jet fuel from a refinery to the city's airport.