'It's gone way too high': Aucklanders struggling as petrol prices surge

Thursday, 10 March 2022

Auckland woman struggling with high fuel prices is considering changing her daughter's school as a result.

Rising fuel costs are forcing some struggling Aucklanders to make difficult decisions between filling up their car and sacrificing necessities.

Single mum and full-time university student Cathy King is one of many unable to keep up with the cost of fuel.

King, who lives in the South Auckland suburb of Māngere, said she was considering changing the school her daughter goes to because she could “barely afford” the petrol needed to make the daily journey.

“I’ll have to rethink where my daughter goes to school in the future if it keeps increasing, because we school out of area,” King said.

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“It's gone way too high, it's outside my budget now.”

Aucklander Cathy King is struggling with high fuel costs and may have to move her daughter to a different school.

As of Thursday, seven out of 10 stations within a 10-kilometre radius of King’s house priced 91 petrol at more than $3 a litre, according to phone app Gaspy.

The most expensive was Mobil Walmsley Road in Favona at $3.12, with the cheapest Pak n’ Save Māngere at $2.87 a litre.

King said it used to cost around $60 to use her car for the week, but that had jumped to more than $100.

AA fuel spokesman Terry Collins said people should “fill up their tanks now”.

The AA is warning fuel prices could stay high for months.

“If you can afford it, fill your tank this week, not next week. If you can't, you're in for a bit of pain at the pump,” Collins said.

Rising fuel costs were being caused by a “perfect storm” of a weaker New Zealand dollar, increases in refining costs, crude oil prices going up and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned because of the United Sates’ ban on Russian oil, things would soon get worse.

Collins expected prices to stay high for “a few months at least.”

“I think three bucks will be the new norm for the price of 91.”

King had been forced to ask for financial help from a local iwi charity to help her cover the fuel costs of getting her daughter to school.

But she was now having to put her petrol expenses on credit.

“It’s putting people who are trying to get by – not living on extra income – into debt.”

Presbyterian Support Northern manager Alistair Houston said for some it was becoming a choice between putting food on the table or petrol in the car.

“One client has stopped using her car and only uses it for urgent matters. The car is now seen as a luxury she cannot afford to just ‘pop out in,’” Houston said.

In another example, a mother wasn’t able to get her child to school because she couldn’t afford petrol until payday, he said, adding others were also struggling to meet the costs of getting children to medical appointments.

Another mother said her family is living week-to-week on a budget, but due to the additional cost of petrol, about 25 per cent per tank, the only negotiable thing she can be flexible with is food.”

King said public transport wasn’t a viable option for her because King needed to drop her daughter off at school each morning.

“You have to walk for half an hour to the nearest bus stop and then taking buses from there doesn't work out.

“We actually have to drive, households need to have a car where we live.”

Houston urged anyone who was having problems money to make contact.

“You don’t need to wait until your finances are in a desperate state. If you’re struggling now, ask for help now,” he said.