A Leap Year Glitch Broke Self-Pay Gas Station Pumps Across New Zealand

On February 29th, 2020, a leap year glitch caused chaos at self-pay gas stations across New Zealand. Drivers were left frustrated as they were unable to use their credit or debit cards to pay for petrol at these stations.

The glitch affected hundreds of gas stations owned by various companies, including BP and Z Energy. The issue stemmed from a programming error related to the leap year date, which caused the self-pay pumps to reject transactions. As a result, many drivers had to seek out alternative ways to pay for fuel or had to wait in long queues to pay in person at manned stations.

Gas station operators worked quickly to resolve the issue, with some stations able to fix the glitch within a matter of hours. However, the incident served as a reminder of the potential vulnerabilities of relying on technology for everyday tasks. While leap year glitches are relatively rare, they can still cause significant disruptions when they occur.

Fortunately, most gas stations were able to resume normal operations by the following day, and drivers could once again pay for petrol using their cards. The glitch serves as a cautionary tale for businesses to ensure their systems are up to date and properly maintained to avoid similar issues in the future.