Petrol price rise sweeps country

Fuel companies are hiking petrol and diesel prices in parts of New Zealand by up to 3 cents a litre.

Pump price increases have been seen in parts of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, with 91 unleaded jumping from $2.09 to $2.12 a litre.

The Automobile Association’s regulations principal adviser, Mark Stockdale, said the price rise was unexpected but it was probably in response to international commodity prices rising throughout March and early April.

‘‘What we could be seeing is a catch-up from earlier commodity price increases,’’ Stockdale said.

Yesterday’s price rise came on the same day the Government announced it would end offshore oil exploration.

However, refined fuel prices were linked to international commodity prices and the Government announcement would not affect fuel prices domestically, he said.

‘‘We don’t think that will impact on prices in New Zealand because domestic oil exploration doesn’t influence the price that we pay at the pump.’’

The last price increase was on March 26 when prices rose 2c a litre, he said.

Prices in some parts of Wellington, such as the Hutt, had not yet risen, he said yesterday. ‘‘It may be a price change is occurring as we speak.’’

Diesel prices had also risen in some places from $1.44 to $1.47 per litre, he said.

The price rise comes as the country braces for a national fuel excise duty increase of between 9c and 12c a litre to fund billions of land transport planning, focusing on road safety and rapid rail.