Picton residents getting a better deal at the pump
Are we paying too much for petrol in Marlborough?
The price of petrol has been a hot topic after the release of a report by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on Wednesday.
The report found that if tax was excluded, petrol prices in New Zealand were the highest in the OECD.
A check of petrol stations across Marlborough on Thursday revealed most petrol stations were offering unleaded 91 petrol at $2.149 a litre.
But, in Picton, motorists were getting a better deal, with Z offering unleaded 91 at $2.099 a litre.
Wellington resident Rob Smyth, who had been visiting Marlborough, said he was surprised at the price difference between Picton and the rest of the region.
‘‘This [Picton] is the cheapest I’ve seen in the time that I’ve been driving through here, no wonder people are queuing up.
‘‘The price of petrol has been ridiculous lately anyway, I can’t believe how high it is, I’m paying upwards of $2.12 cents back in Wellington,’’ Smyth said.
Energy Minister Megan Woods said she had asked officials to explore options for ‘‘regulatory interventions to enhance competition as required’’ as she warned prices were not fair.
‘‘What we have to do is ask the serious questions around why it is that New Zealanders are paying the highest margins in the OECD.
‘‘All the evidence that I have seen is pointing to the fact that people aren’t paying a fair price at the pump, depending on what part of the country they’re in,’’ Woods said.
AA spokesman Mark Stockdale said MBIE had effectively repeated the need for changes to the Commerce Act, while recommending against suggested regulatory measures.
‘‘We haven’t really learnt anything and we’re no further ahead,’’ Stockdale said.
The AA had raised concerns about rising margins and regional Petrol prices in Marlborough (as of December 7; for a litre of unleaded 91):
Challenge: $2.129 BP: $2.149
Caltex: $2.149 Mobil: $2.149 Z Energy: $2.149
G.A.S: $2.149 Allied: $2.149
G.A.S: $2.129 Z Energy: $2.099
pricing variation for several years, without suggesting action be taken, aside from calling for petrol station price boards to be required to display the price of all grades of fuel, including premium.
‘‘We’ve never said what can be done about [rising margins], because we’re not too sure what can be done in a free market economy. We’re as interested as anybody as to what the solutions are.’’