Maz

They were 1.51.9 when we were here last April. Nine months later and it's up to 1.75.9. Boo!

That's an increase of 24 cents, or 15.8%

Not happy.

Andrew Cross

Thought I was the only one who thinks petrol prices are astronomical...
$1.75.9 is so high, I seem to only half fill the car now for the same money and now when we talk about going out in the car I wonder if its worth taking it and readily accept lifts when offered...

CAN2NZ

Yes, and the stupid thing about it is that the RBNZ will use the higher fuel prices as a cause to keep interest rates up. The government will say that higher inflation, as partly supported by higher fuel prices, justifies no or low tax cuts. Why is it stupid? Because, the higher fuel prices, take money out of our pockets, so we have less money for the mortgage which are already at very high rates of ineterest.

The other stupid thing is that I was reading that the government will introduce a budget with tax cuts, but they won't kick in for a year. Why is it that NZ does it this way. Looking at Canada, they have a budget, or even a mini budget via a fiscal update, and tax cuts are not only introduced, but they are immediate so there is now waiting.

While I am ranting, I must say I like living here, but the way government works and a few other things I won't mention just drive me crazy.

Maryanne_Tga

The NZ govt fiscal policy is to controlled by the govt and the 3 year election cycle. It is supposedly independent, but in reality as long as its constrained by the Reserve Bank legislation to keep inflation in the 1-3% band, they will always be adversly effected by govt actions. The high exchange rate and high interest rates are a disgrace, but they are 'needed' because the Reserve bank is scraed about the inflationary pressures that will be created by govt spending in election year. Its a mad system.

Kippers

Petrol Prices:

Better get used to high and higher fuel prices. This stuff is on the endangered list.

My pick is US $120 - $150 barrel before the year ends

Kip

BEVS

Are we going to have a Peak Oil debate?

Kippers

Would you like to?

Kip

lardyl

damn if I'd known then I'd have got the inside track from our friends from Adelaide who visited today and both are geophysicists working in exploration......bugger............
on second thoughts, going down the beach and talking kids/ex-Pattery/ house prices and wondering where the last 15 years have gone was far more productive.........

BEVS

Tempted

owen

Yeah I must admit, I am planning to be less dependent on petrol in my new life here, I want to bike to work!! I don't get the kiwi mentality to its cars and the big engines, road to ruin I think!

I sort of did ok at turners auction the other day, the new motor is only 2 litre.................... won't mention the twin turbos!!!

Maz

Personally I've never seen so few SUVs, pick-up trucks and minivans on the road. Forgive me if I have the wrong terminology there. My car is a whopping 1000 cc and it's enough up the Ngauranga Gorge so I'm happy. We'll use the CRV for longer journeys, though, it's newer and more reliable.

I really hope the price doesn't go shooting up. It does seem to follow war policy in the US too, though. Oh lordy, I really don't mean to start a war / US debate! But it does go inline with it...

Soccer Ref

It doesn't bother me.....my new truck takes 26 gallons and I just fill it up..... it beats the NINE dollars a gallon it costs in the UK !!!

uk+kiwi

Exactly!

I have a (2.3 litre VW) Golf and it now costs me £54 to fill my tank, which I do weekly, just pottering around locally. So that's about $140/week NZD then!

happynz

Fortunately for us Christchurch has a satisfactory bus service, not brilliant, but not too bad either. We also live near the city centre which is only a fifteen minute walk from our leafy suburb. Christchurch's airport, I work in the post distribution centre which is next to one of the runways, is a twenty minute bike ride from our flat. The point is that petrol prices haven't really affected us other than that the prices of everything have gone up as the cost of transporting goods has increased because of the rising fuel costs.

sananddave

HI THERE ALL - Think that it is more like around $16 a gallon in the UK as the diesel now ranges from £1.05 per litre anything up to £1.15 on the main service stations. We are also going through the highest hike in gas and electric prices due to the cost of oil etc which is now at $100 a barrel.Council tax is due to rise at least £150 per person/household-cant remember which but still the usual British rip off!!!!!!!!!!!.