MBIE Petrol Study

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BTR

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Topic # 225801 6-Dec-2017 10:37

So there has been a small amount of talk in the last few months about petrol prices and some talk about the price difference between the north and south islands.

YES there is a difference, every time I am in the north I am in awe about the prices and also how much fluctuation there is between stations that are only hundreds of metres apart at times.

I understand there are transport costs involved however this would probably add a very minimal amount to the per litre price. I hope that the commerce commission gets the power to fix this and that the south island is no longer subsidising Aucklands lower prices.

Current prices

http://www.pricewatch.co.nz/default.aspx

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Reply # 1913783 6-Dec-2017 10:53

If you want to see a petrol price difference lookup BP Clifton (Devonport-Takapuna) and compare that to mobile Takapuna lol.
We all whinged all last year then gave up.

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MikeAqua

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Reply # 1913788 6-Dec-2017 10:59

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I have low expectations for this fresh attempt to sort out petrol pricing.

Any improvement will be nice surprise.

I can't lift/push/pull anything heavy until mid January, so no boating for me this summer. But maybe petrol prices will be sorted out in time for the autumn snapper run?

Mike

tehgerbil

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Reply # 1913795 6-Dec-2017 11:11

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EVERY SINGLE STATION regardless of brand (BP, Z, Caltex etc) are ALL the EXACT same price in Christchurch, there is no competition here whatsoever aside from the special "6c off pl with AA card" at Z, or "10c off with card at BP and Caltex"

Every single station owner is in cohorts with everyone else to ensure there's little point driving around, as the very miilisecond one puts up/down the price, the rest follow within effing hours.

It's such BS and very frustrating.

BTR

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Reply # 1913796 6-Dec-2017 11:11

89 cents for diesel!!! Thats cheaper than most truck companies down here get it for!

wellygary

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Reply # 1913804 6-Dec-2017 11:26

Competition is coming to the lower Sth Island with a new tank farm being built at Timaru port...

https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/99289483/pacific-fuel-firm-sets-sights-on-30m-timaru-port-development

It will probably take a year but hopefully it will allow the growth of independents, ( there is certainly the margins)

nzkiwiman

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Reply # 1913836 6-Dec-2017 13:07

I took a drive to Christchurch from Dunedin, and generally all petrol prices were the same - the exception seemed to be Ashburton which was 6 cents cheaper than "the national price", an unmanned Allied station and Glenavy ($2.049) and an unmanned NPD just at Oamaru ($2.029)

I didn't get to the NPD in Hornby, Christchurch to see what their price was

shk292

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Reply # 1913847 6-Dec-2017 13:55

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I find it amusing that one group of people in Auckland are whining about price differentials between stations being a bad thing, while others are pointing to a lack of price differential between stations in the South Island as evidence of price collusion.

I drive past the Lake Rd BP every day but never stop there because it's a rip-off, especially for the 95/98 that my car needs. Here's a suggestion, Devonport people - if you think it's too expensive there, so somewhere else.

Linuxluver

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Reply # 1913849 6-Dec-2017 13:58

Petrol pricing is always at the mercy of exchange rates as the price of oil, even if sourced domestically, is set against a global price background.

With the change of government the markets always "punish" NZ for not electing a multi-National loving government....as they did in 1999 when Labour won that time. It went for about 6 months and then the NZ$ rose and they got on with business.

I can't see this changing with an imported fuel.

But now there are alternatives for many people....and price of a kWh is much more stable and they are all made locally. You can even make them yourself.....

If anyone wants to get off the petrol price roller coaster......it's getting easier every day. Not yet possible for everyone, but do-able right now for many.

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djtOtago

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Reply # 1913850 6-Dec-2017 13:58

I've always found the NPD Hornby Fuel Stop (600 Halswell Junction Road Hornby) to be much cheaper than any of the fuel stations close by. If I happen to be passing by Christchurch.

networkn

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Reply # 1913856 6-Dec-2017 14:17

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Linuxluver:

Petrol pricing is always at the mercy of exchange rates as the price of oil, even if sourced domestically, is set against a global price background.

It would be interesting to see what the correlation between exchange rate, and oil price and petrol prices are in NZ.

I recall someone talking recently about how they did a study and found it was utter BS (What they found was that even when Currency and Oil were low, petrol was still high) and sent it through to Judith Collins to review.

wellygary

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Reply # 1913859 6-Dec-2017 14:24

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Linuxluver:

Petrol pricing is always at the mercy of exchange rates as the price of oil, even if sourced domestically, is set against a global price background.

Yeah, but the issue is not about the "raw" price,- its fairly easy to see what that should be , (via MOPs etc)

The issue is the "margin" that the importers/retailers are taking, and whether parts of the country are paying more than they should and are subsidising margins in other areas ( ie where market share is under threat from competition)

Geektastic

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Reply # 1913861 6-Dec-2017 14:27

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Don’t panic:

”And Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods is sending a stern message to fuel companies, warning the Government may intervene if it believes the industry is ripping off motorists at the fuel pump.”

Oh yes. Very stern indeed. Positively steely-eyed.

Pffft.

A stern message would be announcing the Commerce Commission (which is a toothless mangy old dog but the best we have) investigation without further ado.

tdgeek

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Reply # 1913862 6-Dec-2017 14:28

tehgerbil:

EVERY SINGLE STATION regardless of brand (BP, Z, Caltex etc) are ALL the EXACT same price in Christchurch, there is no competition here whatsoever aside from the special "6c off pl with AA card" at Z, or "10c off with card at BP and Caltex"

Every single station owner is in cohorts with everyone else to ensure there's little point driving around, as the very miilisecond one puts up/down the price, the rest follow within effing hours.

It's such BS and very frustrating.

Price fixing, aka cartel

tdgeek

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Reply # 1913865 6-Dec-2017 14:33

Geektastic: Don’t panic:

”And Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods is sending a stern message to fuel companies, warning the Government may intervene if it believes the industry is ripping off motorists at the fuel pump.”

Oh yes. Very stern indeed. Positively steely-eyed.

Pffft.

A stern message would be announcing the Commerce Commission (which is a toothless mangy old dog but the best we have) investigation without further ado.

You should have read the article, which included adding teeth to ComCom. National raised the same concerns. Or should she have said, nah, its all good?? This issue has transgressed both Govts, both raised concerns. ComCom has to be given that power, that apparently is the plan, but will be end 2018

nickb800

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Reply # 1913875 6-Dec-2017 14:54

tdgeek:

tehgerbil:

EVERY SINGLE STATION regardless of brand (BP, Z, Caltex etc) are ALL the EXACT same price in Christchurch, there is no competition here whatsoever aside from the special "6c off pl with AA card" at Z, or "10c off with card at BP and Caltex"

Every single station owner is in cohorts with everyone else to ensure there's little point driving around, as the very miilisecond one puts up/down the price, the rest follow within effing hours.

It's such BS and very frustrating.

Price fixing, aka cartel

That doesn't necessarily equal price fixing. If you are selling a commodity product like petrol and have a number of competitors, it often makes economic sense to match your competitor's price, rather than start a price war.

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