Following calls by AA to explain wide-ranging petrol price discrepancies between different stations, SunLive investigated the prices of some Tauranga petrol stations.
The price of unleaded 91 differed by as much as 18 cents a litre, while diesel differed by 23 cents.
The prices were checked at two stations from Mobil, BP, and Z, as well as at a Gull station.
The cheapest stations were Mobil Chapel Street and Gull Bethlehem, both offering unleaded at $1.65 per litre.
The most expensive station was Z 15th Ave, offering unleaded at $1.83 and diesel at a whopping $1.12 per litre.
There were also considerable differences between prices at stations from the same company. The two Z stations differed by 14 cents a litre for unleaded, and 17 cents a litre for diesel.
The two Mobil stations – less than 3km apart – differed by 16 cents a litre for unleaded, and 21 cents a litre for diesel.
According the Z website, price variations between stations is down to local competition, i.e. if there are other stations in the vicinity, then prices are likely to be lower.
This accounts for Z Bethlehem's lower prices – they're just across from an unmanned Gull station.
However, it does not explain why Z 15th Ave and Mobil Cameron Road – only metres away from one another – topped the price survey.
Z Corporate Communications Manager Jonathan Hill stressed it was not an example of price fixing.
'We have a national price, and over half our network is actually discounted off that national price. That's a direct consequence of local competition in certain areas,” he says.
'Ten years ago people complained when the prices were all the same, now we're seeing complaints because the prices are different. But that's because there's more choice. If you want an unmanned offer, you can go to a station like that. If you want a full service offer, where somebody comes out to fill up your car and wash your windscreen, then you can go to Z.”
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RESULTS
MOBIL CHAPEL STREET
Unleaded: 1.65
Diesel: 0.89
BP NGATAI ROAD
Unleaded: 1.77
Diesel: 1.01
Z BETHLEHEM
Unleaded: 1.69
Diesel: 0.95
GULL BETHLEHEM
Unleaded: 1.65
Diesel: 0.89
BP SUMMIT
Unleaded: 1.79
Diesel: 1.03
Z 15TH AVE
Unleaded: 1.83
Diesel: 1.12
MOBIL CAMERON ROAD
Unleaded: 1.81
Diesel: 1.10
10 comments
Download...
Posted on 12-10-2016 08:39 | By penguin
...the "Gaspy" app for your smartphone. Gives prices at most petrol stations in Tauranga and Te Puke.
Ripped
Posted on 12-10-2016 09:23 | By Gigilo
Of course we are being taken for a ride with petrol pricing. The government is not really interested as it reduces the tax take. Guess that is life. Time to go electric and reap those benefits until the goal posts are moved.
Gaspy now on iPhone and Android
Posted on 12-10-2016 09:34 | By Ben Smith
This is one of the developers of Gaspy and you will be pleased to hear that the iPhone version is now out. You can now find the cheapest petrol regardless of whether you have an android or iPhone phone.
95 Octane
Posted on 12-10-2016 09:46 | By rosbo
Why do petrol stations never advertise 95 octane perrol? The price differences there are eye watering.
Cheapest Gas
Posted on 12-10-2016 12:21 | By Moby
In town area Mobil Chapel street is consistently the cheapest as evidenced by the continual flow of cars in there.I can't understand why anyone would go to the others . 18 cents per litre is a big difference and Mobil gives other discounts on top of the cheapest price.As we as tax payers own Z I would like to use them but just refuse to pay so much more to do so !!
Mobil Tokoroa and Gull Atamuri Cheaper still
Posted on 12-10-2016 14:13 | By Watcher 1
Travelling Auckland to Taupo yesterday I filled up at Mobil Tokoroa 91 Octane at only 1.639 per litre and Diesel was well under 90cents.Good old Gull for keeping the prices down even in the remote towns
95 and 98 Octaine
Posted on 12-10-2016 14:37 | By FunandGames
This is where the biggest root is happening, SunLive check out these prices and ask the AA how much more than 91 octaine these should be.
www.gaspy.nz offers an informed choice.
Posted on 12-10-2016 15:01 | By Happy Chappy
I use the free app www.gaspy.nz to find the best deal closest to me. At least that way I feel like I have a choice and am not at the mercy of Big Oil.
Gaspy now on iPhone and Android
Posted on 12-10-2016 20:36 | By GreertonCynic
Awesome, but I don't use either. What about Windows?
Really ,,, Z's Jonathan Hill ?
Posted on 13-10-2016 06:57 | By Evan57
Price fixing is illegal isn't it ? You have to say that . We have all seen many other examples of close by competitors with mutually inflated prices . Jonathan Hill , I think you are skirting around the Truth in your comment . Despicable .
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