Fuel retailers taking New Zealanders for a ride

File Photo.

A former petrol station employee says fuel companies are taking advantage of New Zealand drivers.

More than 15,000 New Zealanders are part of a Facebook group planning to boycott petrol stations throughout the country later this month in protest against rising fuel prices.

Petrol is now above $2.50 a litre is some main centres, due to new Government taxes and higher overseas crude oil prices.

One protester Cory, who's also a former petrol station employee, says his problem isn't with Government taxes, but with petrol retailers.

"Everyone uses petrol, we have to pay for it if we need to get anywhere, but they pay their employees biscuits and to deal with really angry customers, disgruntled people and to deal with hazardous chemicals - petrol is a hazardous chemical."

Z Energy says hands tied over petrol increases

The country's biggest fuel retailer says its hands are tied over higher prices at the pump and is warning more is to come.

Z Energy's chief executive Mike Bennetts says he understood the frustration of those planning to boycott petrol stations.

The lower New Zealand exchange rate, along with higher overseas crude oil prices, had pushed fuel prices upwards, he says.

"There are sanctions going in against Iran that come into effect on 1 November and that's really the primary reason why crude prices have gone up by so much in the last month or two," he says.

Mr Bennetts says there would unlikely be any immediate relief in petrol prices and warned they could go higher.

"We would regret passing that on as I said to businesses and families," he added.

The company's profit margin on petrol has stayed relatively the same, he says.

However Cory says Mr Bennetts' comments weren't good enough.

"I understand we're basically at the bottom of the world, we're the most furthest point from anywhere that creates fuel and pumps it up but I still reckon it's part of an excuse...I mean, petrol's $1.30 in Aussie at the moment so why is it a whole $1.30 more here."

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4 comments

fuel

Posted on 07-10-2018 11:57 | By dumbkof2

the sun is shining very bright so better put the price of fuel up thats their excuse anyway.


Simple

Posted on 07-10-2018 12:19 | By astex

Tax on Aussie fuel 30%.Tax on NZ fuel 60% and rising. Typical labour con. Give with one hand and take back with the other. My latest pay increase has been taken off me with the fuel increase and we still have price increases from extra fuel costs to hit us yet. Jacinda, the honeymoon is over. Get it sorted.


What else would you expect.

Posted on 07-10-2018 12:52 | By Marshal

Every business owner is bound by the unspoken number one rule.!! No matter what the profits are you are duty bound to declare that you are on the brink of bankruptcy.. Not enough profit to feed the family.. One day true consumer resistance will take hold, then see how low prices can go.. lol I am already seeing it in some sectors of our economy .


People power

Posted on 07-10-2018 18:48 | By Country life

Don’t listen to excuses. Time for us all to take a stand and lets see what people power can do


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