Local gas now beats Auckland

 

BY JULIA WADE

While recent petrol price hikes have been causing chaos to many Kiwi bank balances across New Zealand, and particularly Auckland, buying gas in east Kaipara now appears to be the cheaper option for locals.

Nationwide increases of a 3.5 cent tax per litre of fuel initiated on September 30 saw a large number of station petrol prices tip over the $2.30 mark. 

At time of print, October 11, Gas Mangawhai and Allied Mangawhai at the Heads were both charging $2.32.9 per litre for 91unleaded, and $1.61.9 and $1.59.9 respectively for diesel. Further afield, Kaiwaka’s Caltex Shamrock and both Maungaturoto stations were offering just under $2.30 for 91 and $1.60 for diesel. 

In comparison, ‘Kaiparians’ out west have to pay above Auckland’s average $2.40 cost, with fuel in Dargaville standing at $2.42 for 91 and $1.82 for diesel. Anyone desperate for petrol in Tinopai will unfortunately have to fork out a whopping $2.74.9 per litre for 91, the highest price in Northland and possibly in New Zealand. 

Going north, the average cost in Whangarei stands around $2.35 and $1.61 for diesel while unleaded 91 in Auckland ranges from an incredibly low $2.01.2 in Glen Eden’s West Coast Road Gull station to nearly $2.50. 

Interestingly, all three stations in Wellsford have lower prices than Kaipara despite having to absorb Auckland’s 11.5 cent surcharge from July 1. A spokesperson for Mobil Wellsford says they strive to keep their prices low in the small town mainly due to the competition from Gull. Both Caltex and Mobil are 1cent cheaper than Mangawhai at $2.31.9 for unleaded and $161.9 diesel, while Gull boast one of the lowest prices in Northland, offering drivers $2.27 for 91, and $1.57 for diesel. 

 Information from Gaspy fuel app.

From $2.32.9 at midday to an early evening price of $2.34.9 for unleaded 91; shows the rapid fluctuation of New Zealand’s petrol market.