New Zealand doctor bills US embassy over fuel costs

A New Zealand doctor has formally asked the United States embassy in Wellington to reimburse his medical clinic for fuel-related expenses, arguing that rising petrol costs are a direct consequence of what he described as an “avoidable war” initiated by President Donald Trump and his administration.

Dr Shane Dunphy, who runs the Onslow Medical Centre in the capital, submitted an invoice totalling NZ$2,790.95 (US$1,597) to the embassy. The amount reflects petrol vouchers the clinic provided to staff to help cover transportation costs amid sharply rising fuel prices, as per the Guardian.

In a letter accompanying the invoice, Dunphy said his employees were struggling to afford petrol due to an energy crisis triggered by US and Israeli military actions against Iran. He noted that the clinic introduced the vouchers to ensure staff could continue commuting to work and support their families.

“We now ask that the USA reimburse us the cost of these vouchers. The USA is responsible for this and therefore should be held accountable,” Dunphy wrote.

New Zealand, he argued, has been particularly vulnerable to the fallout from the conflict due to its reliance on global trade and exposure to supply chain and shipping disruptions.

According to Dunphy, petrol prices have risen by as much as 50 cents per litre, pushing the average cost of unleaded fuel above NZ$3 per litre.

In his letter, Dunphy also sharply criticized Trump, calling the strikes on Iran “immoral and completely unjustified.” He encouraged other individuals and businesses to submit similar claims to the US embassy for increased costs linked to the crisis, while acknowledging that “no amount of money could compensate for the human misery and loss of life Trump and the USA are responsible for.”

He concluded the letter by stating that “payment is expected within seven days.”

Speaking to The Guardian, Dunphy said he sent the invoice on March 27 “as a matter of principle.”

“If you break something, you should fix it,” he said. “I think that the whole world needs to be pointing the finger at the US and saying, sort this out. You voted this man to be president. You sort it out.”

Dunphy also criticized governments that have not condemned the conflict, including New Zealand and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. “Unless they stand on principle, you know, what do we have?” he said, adding: “One man has led to this global economic crisis. So that sums it up for me, that’s why I’ve done it.”

Despite his actions, Dunphy said he does not expect the US embassy to pay the invoice.

By Tamilla Hasanova