Truckies on Great Barrier Island already have to pay some of the highest fuel prices in New Zealand.
Truckies on Great Barrier Island already have to pay some of the highest fuel prices in New Zealand.
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Great Barrier Island has some of the most expensive fuel in New Zealand so it was no surprise that its truckies were ready to take to the road in frustration at rising road-user costs.
For about an hour yesterday morning, about 15 trucks drove up and down themain road at Claris, the central settlement where the island's airport is located.
The man behind the protest was Chris Cole, who makes his living building and maintaining island roads, funded by the Auckland City Council and Transit New Zealand.
Mr Cole said he didn't have a problem with road-user charges to help pay for roads.
But with rising business costs from hefty fuel price rises, the Great Barrier Island truck driver felt enough was enough.
Mr Cole runs the biggest truck outfit on the island, so he bulk-buys fuel to keep his costs manageable.
Despite that, he is paying $2.18 a litre for diesel.
At the local pump, Mr Cole would be paying $2.30 a litre for diesel and $2.67 a litre for petrol.
"I don't buy petrol if I can help it."
Mr Cole said the locals had supported the small protest, tooting and waving and giving the drivers the thumbs-up.
Because Great Barrier had no mains power, most residents had to rely on diesel-powered generators.
"They are paying road taxes to run a generator which sits in a shed."
Mike Golaboski, who runs Claris Motors, learned of the protest when he saw the trucks passing by.
"They all came out of the woodwork," he said.
He was sympathetic, especially as a friend in Auckland had recently shut his trucking business because of rising costs.
