Bay's pumps cheapest in NZ

Amber Ingle will drive past a petrol station if she thinks it is too expensive. Photo / Ruth Keber

Petrol prices in Tauranga vary by up to 18c per litre with some stations offering the lowest prices in the country, according to an unofficial Bay of Plenty Times survey.

The unofficial petrol station survey across the city showed that some stations still had their prices as high as 197.9c per litre, which is also the national price for petrol currently, but some as low as 179.9c - an 18c difference.

Mark Stockdale, AA PetrolWatch spokesman, said the petrol prices had been coming down for the last seven weeks with the lowest prices of $1.80 coming from Rotorua and Auckland.

The drop was due to international commodity prices falling which flowed onto lower prices at the pump, he said. The drop meant petrol prices were down 14c a litre.

Mr Stockdale said the low prices would likely continue with commodity prices still dropping.

"We will keep seeing some price cuts for the moment, especially in light in some of the international concerns around the Chinese stock market, as that is putting a bit of nervousness out there internationally and that's causing the commodity prices to fall."

It was unknown how long the prices would stay as low as they were, he said.

Mr Stockdale said he had heard some petrol pumps in New Zealand were as low as $1.80.

"Certainly I would expect the same in Rotorua, it is one of the lowest price regions and undoubtedly there would be service stations in Auckland around that level."

Eventually commodity prices would bottom out, he said.

Amber Ingle, 26, said she did not search out the cheapest petrol pumps but would drive past some if she thought they were too expensive. Two dollars was her limit, she said.

The Gate Pa resident said she generally stuck to using self service stations, as they were cheaper, and she would always fill her car up completely when filling it.

Petrol prices
•Mobil Cameron Rd: 197.9c
•Z Cameron Rd: 197.9c
•BP Waihi Rd: 195.9c
•Mobil Otumoetai Rd: 188.9c
•Caltex Otumoetai Rd: 188.9c
•BP Ngatai Rd: 189.9c
•Mobil Chapel St: 185.9c
•Caltex Bayfair: 189.9c
•Gull Hewletts Rd: 179.9c
•Waitomo Hewletts Rd: 179.9c
* Prices taken between 12.45pm and 1.45pm yesterday

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