Leap Year Bug Halts New Zealand Petrol Pumps, Causes Disruption

In New Zealand, a widespread disruption unfolded on Thursday as self-service petrol pumps were abruptly closed due to a leap year "software glitch." Multiple companies, including Gull and Allied Petroleum, reported the issue, attributing it to a problem with the payment provider's software, specifically related to the unique date of Feb 29.

The capital city, Wellington, experienced station closures, leaving forecourts deserted. Motorists were greeted with signs announcing a "Nationwide Payment Outage - Site Unavailable," indicating the extensive impact across all fuel brands.

Gull's spokesperson, Julien Leys, acknowledged the nationwide nature of the problem, emphasizing its influence on various fuel providers. Meanwhile, Gull's competitor, Allied Petroleum, noted a similar challenge but highlighted the gradual restoration of service at manned stations with on-site shops.

Z, another affected company, issued an apology to customers and reassured them of active collaboration with their third-party payment provider to swiftly resolve the issue. The incident underscores the critical role of technology in fuel transactions and the complexities that can arise, even due to date-specific anomalies like a leap year.