The response was so large that it caused a traffic jam outside the station, with people describing the scenes as \u201cchaos\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood on you! Causing chaos in Hamilton\u2019s busiest roundabout but good on you anyway,\u201d said one person on Facebook.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just went past,\u201d said another. \u201cCops there, really packed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBro you just caused a traffic jam,\u201d added another.<\/p>\n
Keene, who livestreams gaming and other content on streaming platform Kick, documented the entire event live.<\/p>\n
Police were called after internet personality Rongo Keene’s free fuel giveaway got out of hand. Photo \/ Kick \/ THESMG<\/p>\n
When he was told about the chaos unfolding at the Z petrol station, Keene said on his stream: \u201cWhy would you be at the pump if you\u2019re not going to put some gas in it though? Oh my God, that\u2019s a problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re going to have to get in there and get straight into it then. If there are people there hogging the pumps, they\u2019re going to get in trouble. We don\u2019t want to get in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n
Police confirmed to the Herald that they responded, to help with traffic.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolice were made aware of a large amount of vehicles queuing at a petrol station on Peachgrove Rd around 9.20am. Police attended and assisted with traffic management,\u201d a police spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
Z Energy said it was aware of the event, which concluded after about 20 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cZ Energy was aware of the social media post from an individual offering to assist with fuel costs at Z Te Papanui (Five Cross Roads),\u201d a Z Energy spokesperson said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe monitored the situation closely alongside police, and can confirm the event concluded within approximately 20 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
A police officer was also filmed on Keene\u2019s livestream.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not illegal what you\u2019re doing, but it\u2019s causing traffic to back up,\u201d the police officer can be heard telling Keene. <\/p>\n
\u201cIdeally, we want everyone to just clear out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking to his livestream viewers after the event, Keene said he had \u201cover 100 vouchers\u201d to give away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the f*** was going on? That was unreal \u2026 we pumped through a s***load of people aye?<\/p>\n
\u201cBig shoutout to everyone who came. Thank you to the police officers too, they were actually really nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
It comes as fuel prices have soared across the country \u2013 and the globe \u2013 amid the war in Iran.<\/p>\n
The average price of unleaded 91 petrol in New Zealand has increased from $2.49 per litre in early March to over $3.46 today.<\/p>\n