Wellington residents pay the most for fuel in the country, according to the Commerce Commission’s new fuel monitoring report.
The commission’s second quarterly report for the three months ended 30 September 2022 showed motorists in Wellington, Porirua and Lower Hutt pay the most for regular 91, premium and diesel fuel.
Christchurch drivers got the best bang for their buck in petrol prices, while Tauranga offered the cheapest diesel, with both regions having the lowest average fuel prices.
Commission chair Dr John Small said the report showed significant fuel price variations across the main centres. The most dramatic difference was seen in Auckland.
“This is likely due to several factors, including levels of competition, the capital or operating costs of sites, and consumer behaviour.”
Prices at different Auckland petrol stations varied by 22 cents per litre for regular 91, 29 cents for premium 95 and 98, and 31 cents for diesel.
Aucklanders could save up to $264 for regular 91 in a year, or up to $348 for premium if they actively compared prices between their nearby stations, the commission calculated.
Importers’ margins spiked over a three-week period on average as import costs dropped faster than retail prices.
Margins increased 61.9 percent for diesel and 63.6 percent for regular 91 over the survey period.
