Waitomo Group

What Waitomo Group does

Waitomo Group is a 100% Kiwi-owned, third-generation family fuel company founded in 1947 in Te Kuiti and headquartered in Hamilton, New Zealand. The company operates 95+ unmanned 24-hour fuel stops spanning the country from Paihia to Invercargill, providing retail petroleum products (Unleaded 91, Premium 95, Diesel) alongside commercial bulk fuel supply, fuel storage solutions, the Waitomo Fuel Card, and Mini-Tankers farm/commercial fuel delivery (acquired from Z Energy in 2023, operated through 15 regional franchisees). Its technology stack centers on the unmanned operating model and a mobile app ecosystem (retail and commercial apps with contactless payment and Moolah fuel credit gamification), supported by an online customer portal for commercial accounts.

The business monetizes through fuel margin on retail pump sales, recurring commercial Fuel Card relationships, transaction-based bulk fuel delivery, and franchise-fee economics on Mini-Tankers. Customers span retail motorists, commercial fleet operators, and rural/agricultural users. Recent strategic expansion into alternative fuels includes Australasia's first green hydrogen refueling network (partnership with Hiringa Energy, operational April 2024) and 160kW DC fast EV chargers via We.EV. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer (unmanned stops, app) with enterprise field sales for commercial accounts. Market share is estimated at 4-7% of NZ ground fuels, and the company has been ranked the #1 fuel brand in New Zealand by Kantar for two consecutive years.

Name

Waitomo Group

Legal name

Waitomo Group Limited

Website

https://waitomogroup.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Waitomo Group is a 100% Kiwi-owned, third-generation family fuel company operating 95+ unmanned 24-hour fuel stops across New Zealand, serving retail motorists, commercial fleet operators, and rural customers with bulk fuel supply, Mini-Tankers delivery, and alternative fuel infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fuel Retail and Distribution

NAICS

Other Gasoline Stations (457120), Gasoline Stations and Fuel Dealers (457), Fuel Dealers (45721)

akta.pro primary industry

Truck Stops & Travel Centers (Heavy-Duty Retail) (EUALAIAF)

Keywords

• Retail fuel supply
• Commercial fuel solutions
• Bulk fuel delivery
• Hydrogen refueling infrastructure
• EV charging networks

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamilton

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Retail Fuel Sales: Sale of petroleum products (Unleaded 91, Premium 95, Diesel, GoClear) at unmanned fuel stops to individual consumers. Revenue generated through pump sales at competitive prices with low overhead due to unmanned operations.
2. Commercial Fuel Cards: Waitomo Fuel Cards provide Kiwi businesses access to tailored commercial rates or pump price whichever is lowest. Recurring revenue from commercial customers with regular fuel consumption.
3. Bulk Fuel Supply & Mini-Tankers: Bulk commercial fuel delivery to businesses, farms, and commercial sites. Mini-Tankers service acquired from Z Energy provides small-volume delivery to commercial customers through franchisee network.
4. Fuel Storage Solutions: On-site fuel storage solutions for commercial customers requiring dedicated fuel infrastructure.
5. App-based Moolah Promotions: Fuel credit system integrated with Waitomo App, driving customer engagement and loyalty through promotional spin-to-win features and promotional giveaways.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Waitomo Group is a 100% Kiwi-owned fuel retailer and commercial fuel supplier operating more than 95 unmanned 24-hour Fuel Stops and Diesel Stops across New Zealand, offering Unleaded 91, Premium 95, Diesel, and GoClear. The company also provides commercial fuel solutions including bulk fuel supply, farm trade delivery via the Mini-Tankers franchisee network, Waitomo Fuel Cards, fuel storage solutions, and is developing alternative energy infrastructure including hydrogen refueling stations and EV charging.

Product overview

Waitomo Group is a 100% Kiwi-owned and operated fuel retailer and supplier founded in 1947, headquartered in Hamilton, Waikato. The company operates as a single unified offering (not a platform-plus-modules architecture) with a portfolio of fuel retail, commercial fuel solutions, and alternative energy services. Core products include over 95 unmanned Fuel Stops and Diesel Stops stretching from Paihia to Invercargill, the Waitomo App (retail) and Waitomo Commercial App (commercial) for mobile payments and account management, and the Waitomo Fuel Card for commercial customers. Commercial solutions encompass bulk fuel supply, Waitomo Mini-Tankers (farm and commercial delivery acquired from Z Energy), and fuel storage solutions. Alternative energy offerings include a hydrogen refueling network (partnership with Hiringa Energy) and EV charging (partnerships with We.EV and WEL Networks). The company also provides a touch-free Wash and Glow carwash at select locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Waitomo Fuel Stops Unmanned 24-hour retail fuel stations offering Unleaded 91, Premium 95, Diesel, and GoClear to individual motorists across New Zealand. Competitive pump pricing enabled by low overheads of unmanned operations.
• Waitomo Fuel Card Commercial fuel card providing Kiwi businesses access to tailored commercial rates or pump price, whichever is lowest, with account management and invoicing capabilities.
• Waitomo App (Retail) Mobile application for retail customers enabling contactless fuel payment, fuel stop finder, spin-to-win Moolah promotions, and account management. Available on Apple App Store and Google Play.
• Waitomo Commercial App Mobile application for commercial customers enabling in-vehicle payment, account management, and access to commercial fuel solutions including bulk delivery scheduling.
• Waitomo Mini-Tankers Farm and commercial fuel delivery service acquired from Z Energy in August 2023. Operates through an independent franchisee model (Kiwees) with 15 regional operators delivering fuel to farms and commercial sites across both North and South Islands.
• Bulk Fuel Supply Commercial bulk fuel supply for businesses including onsite diesel supply and farm trade supply. Provides total fuel solutions for commercial customers with dedicated commercial truck refueling lanes at select sites.
• Fuel Storage Solutions Fuel storage solutions for commercial customers including storage tanks and related infrastructure for business fuel management.
• Hydrogen Refueling Network Green hydrogen refueling infrastructure developed in partnership with Hiringa Energy. Australasia's first zero-emission hydrogen network for heavy transport vehicles including trucks and buses, with refueling taking 10-20 minutes.
• EV Charging Electric vehicle charging infrastructure through partnerships with We.EV and WEL Networks. 160kW DC fast chargers available at select Waitomo sites including Ruakura Superhub and Mystery Creek, capable of charging EVs from low to 80% in approximately 20 minutes.
• Wash and Glow Carwash Touch-free carwash service available at select Waitomo Fuel Stops including Ruakura Superhub. Designed with a glow worm cave aesthetic, using soap, water, and air without brushes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #1 in fuel sector customer experience categories including customer centricity, service delivery, offer excellence, and brand clarity
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Hyundai New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2024Supplying hydrogen fuel-cell Xcient heavy-duty trucks to New Zealand. Five trucks being introduced with EECA funding support.
• Hiringa Refuelling New Zealand (HRNZ)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2024Joint venture entity formed to operate Australasia's first zero-emission green hydrogen refueling network. Backing from Government ($16M loan), Mitsui, K1W1 (Sir Stephen Tindall), Green Impact Partners.
• Z EnergycoreOthers · 1 August 2023Acquisition of Z Energy's Mini-Tankers and bulk commercial fuel delivery businesses completed August 2023. Creates national footprint for Waitomo, doubling commercial volumes and expanding market share to approximately 7%.
• We.EVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2023We.EV (powered by WEL Networks) installing 160kW public fast chargers across multiple Waitomo sites. Initial installation at Ruakura Superhub. Partnership supports EV infrastructure expansion with national scale vision.
• TR GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2023Australasia's largest heavy vehicle fleet owner. Enabling hydrogen truck technology adoption through commitment to aggregate vehicle fleets. Initial fleet of 20 Hyzon hydrogen trucks operational.
• McDonald's New ZealandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 August 2022First sub-tenant at Ruakura Superhub flagship site. McDonald's restaurant includes drive-thru with 75 indoor seats, self-ordering kiosks, and Play Place. Opened before Christmas 2022.
• KFC New ZealandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 August 2022Sub-tenant at Ruakura Superhub flagship site. Restaurant employing up to 35 locals. Opened end of 2022.
• Tainui Group Holdings (TGH)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2021Waitomo as first retail/service tenant at Ruakura Superhub development. 1.6-hectare flagship site includes hydrogen refueling, EV charging, commercial truck lanes, carwash, and quick-service restaurants. Project of national significance estimated to accommodate 6,000-12,000 jobs when complete.
• Waikato Rugby UnioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 May 2021Front of jersey sponsor for Waikato Farah Palmer Cup team (women's rugby). Partnership includes National Provincial Championship teams reserve jackets sponsorship and official fuel of choice since 2019.
• Chiefs Rugby ClubcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 March 2021Principal partner of Waitomo Chiefs Manawa women's rugby team. Team competes in Super Rugby Aupiki. Sponsorship supports women's rugby development and community engagement.
• Hiringa EnergyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2020Partnership to develop New Zealand's first nationwide hydrogen refueling network. Hiringa provides green hydrogen technology and infrastructure while Waitomo provides site locations at existing and new fuel stops. Network positioned to service 95% of North Island heavy freight routes. Four initial stations at Wiri, Te Rapa, Palmerston North, and Tauranga operational April 2024.
• WEL NetworkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2019Installation of first rapid EV charger at Waitomo Mystery Creek Fuel Stop. Partnership expands WEL's EV charging network coverage in Waikato region. Chargers compatible with any EV, providing 80% charge in ~20 minutes.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Allied Petroleum: NZ fuel retailer focused on bulk commercial supply and unmanned rural fuel stops — closely comparable to Waitomo's Mini-Tankers and unmanned retail model.
• Parkland Corporation: Canadian fuel and convenience retailer with a comparable mix of retail forecourts, commercial fuel cards, and bulk fuel distribution — closest international peer in operating model and customer mix.
• Murphy USA: US fuel retailer operating low-overhead, high-throughput retail sites — comparable to Waitomo's unmanned 24-hour, low-cost retail format and price-led positioning.
• ARKO Corp: US multi-brand fuel retail and wholesale/distribution operator — closely comparable to Waitomo on the combination of branded retail forecourts and commercial bulk/wholesale fuel supply.
• Z Energy / Ampol NZ: New Zealand's largest fuel retailer with national retail, commercial bulk supply, and Truck Stops network — direct competitor in every Waitomo segment; Waitomo acquired Z's Mini-Tankers and bulk commercial fuel business in 2023.
• Mobil New Zealand (ExxonMobil): National NZ retail fuel brand with commercial and lubricant offerings, directly competing with Waitomo on retail forecourts and bulk commercial supply.

Broad incumbents

• Pilot Travel Centers: North America's largest travel-center and truck-stop operator, comparable to Waitomo's Ruakura Superhub flagship with truck lanes, EV charging, food tenants, and carwash.
• Couche-Tard / Circle K: World's largest independent convenience and fuel retailer with global footprint — comparable to Waitomo's app-led loyalty/forecourt model and adjacent to convenience store roadmap.
• BP New Zealand: Major oil-major with a national branded retail fuel and convenience network across NZ, plus commercial and lubricant offerings — broadly competes with Waitomo on retail and commercial fuels.
• Caltex (Ampol): Australia and NZ fuel retailer with national forecourt and convenience network — broader incumbent competing against Waitomo for retail and commercial volumes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/waitomogroup
• LinkedInnz.linkedin.com/company/waitomo-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Waitomo Group