Petrol prices on the rise nationwide
Petrol prices are again approaching record highs across the country, following a 3 cents a litre hike yesterday morning.
Prices have risen to $2.28 at petrol stations in central Wellington and in the South Island yesterday morning. In central Auckland, where a 10 cents per litre fuel tax exists, prices have climbed to $2.39 a litre.
Caltex, Z Energy and BP sites across the Wellington region raised their price of regular 91 octane petrol as much as 3 cents a litre. The price used in most of Wellington is what the industry refers to as the ‘‘national’’ or ‘‘main port’’ price, which also applies in many parts of the South Island and areas where there is no local discounting.
In May, regular petrol prices hit an all time high of $2.30 a litre in many parts of the country, driven by a rising global oil price and a weaker New Zealand dollar.
Aucklanders have started to feel the effects of a 11.5 cent per litre regional fuel tax, which came into effect July 1. Prices recorded yesterday had the highest prices in the country with fuel selling at $2.389 a litre.
July was an otherwise was a stable time for prices, with a 3 cent per litre increase at the end of the month ending a five-week period with no change in price. AA petrol pricing spokesman Mark Stockdale attributed the rise then to rising commodity prices, largely driven by a reduction to crude oil supply out of Saudi Arabia.