WELLINGTON, Mar 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Cars, boats and gallon bottles, New Zealanders were filling every tank with fuel before another big price hike tipped at the weekend.
Petrol prices have already jumped up dramatically over the past month, which saw the national average price of 91 petrol increase 11.8 percent to 2.94 New Zealand dollars per litre, with a 23.1-percent increase for diesel to 2.28 New Zealand dollars per litre, according to the price comparing tool, Gaspy.
On Friday, local fuel retailer, Waitomo, warned of a looming unprecedented rise in prices. Chief Executive, Jimmy Ormsby, said, the company had been advised by its supplier that prices would increase after 6:00 p.m. local time, Friday evening.
Even though most of the competitors said, they would not follow suit to impose sudden price hikes, motorists were quick to react by queuing at petrol stations and filling their tanks, to beat potential price hikes. Petrol stations across the country were swamped with cars before the price hike came into effect.
Some petrol stations reportedly run out of 91, 95 and diesel, while others saw as long as one km of queues. Fuel prices since jumped up 17 to 30 cents at Waitomo’s different petrol stations. Prices differed among petrol stations, but the sign of price increase seemed no easing trend.
New Zealand Institute of Economic Research economist, Shamubeel Eaqub told local media that, the steep increase in fuel prices can be attributed to the Ukraine crisis.
On Thursday, New Zealand finance minister, Grant Robertson, warned that, it was “not the end of the road” for petrol and diesel price hikes.
“I can’t give you a specific dollar term, but it’s quite clear petrol prices will continue to rise,” said Robertson.– NNN-AGENCIES
