Petrol still too expensive, say motorists

Paul Smith takes advantage of lower petrol prices to fill up his ute in Auckland yesterday. Picture / Paul Estcourt

The price of petrol dropped again yesterday but for many motorists it still looks too expensive.

Shell, Caltex, Mobil and BP slashed 5c off the price of petrol and 2c off diesel yesterday. The price of 91-octane has now fallen 26c in the past month.

Following yesterday's cuts, unleaded 91-octane was at $1.50.9 a litre and 95-octane at $1.55.9c a litre. Diesel was down 2c a litre to $1.16.9.

Filling up at a central Auckland service station last night, property maintenance manager Paul Smith said the new prices were a "relief" but should fall lower.

"The price needs to come down even more - they went up a lot faster than they've come down and stayed up there for longer too," he said.

"As soon as I saw the new price I thought, 'I'd better get some gas before it goes up again'."

He said the Government was making too much money through petrol taxation. "They're getting more than their fair share and they also charge GST on it as well so it's kind of like a triple tax."

He would be happy to see the price back at $1.30. "I remember when it was $1.09 a litre and that was nice."

Automobile Association spokesman Mike Noon described the price drop as "marvellous".

He said diesel had dropped less partly because there was high international demand for what is the main fuel for industry.

Mr Noon said the petrol price was now back to where it was in March this year but most motorists probably still thought they were paying too much.