People queue to fill the tanks at a Waitomo gas station in New Zealand's capital city Wellington in the afternoon of March 11, 2022, moment before another hike in fuel price. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua)
Petrol stations across the country were swamped with cars before the price hike came into effect.
WELLINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua) -- 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 p.m. local time Friday evening.
People queue to fill the tanks at a Waitomo gas station in New Zealand's capital city Wellington in the afternoon of March 11, 2022, moment before another hike in fuel price. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua)
"With the biggest single jump in our wholesale price seen in my time," said Ormsby.
Even though most of the competitors said that 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 had reportedly run out of 91, 95 and diesel, while others saw as long as 1 km of queues.
People queue to fill the tanks at a Waitomo gas station in New Zealand's capital city Wellington in the afternoon of March 11, 2022, moment before another hike in fuel price. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua)
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. ■
