Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. Photo / RNZ
By Morning Report of RNZ
Mainfreight’s chief executive says he is “frustrated” at KiwiRail and Auckland Transport, and that the agencies could be doing more as the Middle East conflict sends fuel prices up.
The country’s fuel stocks have dropped in the past two updates, but officials say there is no need for alarm.
Don Braid told Morning Report that moving freight via rail was more efficient than by truck, “yet we haven’t seen KiwiRail stand up to offer additional services”.
“They’re missing in action at the moment, and we would like to see them stand up to help the industry.”
The fuel crisis had brought to the forefront the importance of fuel, particularly diesel, which needed to be used more efficiently, he said.
“It’s not just what’s in our trucks, but it’s what fuels our fishing vessels. It’s what goes into the tractors to harvest the crops. It’s how the farmer gets out to feed his animals. It has a big role to play in our everyday lives.”
Mainfreight had been speaking to KiwiRail but was failing to get action, he said.
“We are trying, but [we’re] frustrated to be perfectly honest.”
Other organisations, like Auckland Transport, also needed to make adjustments to make diesel usage more efficient, he said.
It should reconsider its position on the idea of allowing freight vehicles to use bus lanes, Braid said.
“Think about the amount of diesel idling that goes on because we can’t use a bus lane.”
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown was not fond of the idea, saying it would just cause more congestion.
He told Nine to Noon a better alternative would be to have trucks operating at night.
“Get the trucks on the road at night ... it’s a lot cheaper to pick up a container at night than the daytime,” Brown said.
He said the warehouse companies were obstructing that change, and if truck companies passed on their increased fuel costs to the storage companies, they would start opening at night.
Brown said crowded bus lanes were already a problem.
“We already have trouble with buses crowding themselves ... the buses have to stop, and the next thing will be the truck will be stuck behind the bus idling.”
Meanwhile, the operator of a north Wairarapa garage and petrol station says people have become much more discerning about where they buy their fuel.
Kevin Laskey of Pahiatua told Morning Report although his rural fuel station had similar pricing to the nearest city, Palmerston North, he was seeing fewer customers.
The financial pinch created by the high price of fuel was also affecting the garage side of the business, he said.
“Definitely going to be less maintenance on cars, housing, anything like that ... everything they have left over has to go to food and and just living really.”
One customer had come in with a warrant of fitness that was three months’ expired, and metal wires exposed on the tyres, Laskey said.
“He’d been driving. He had no choice. And we managed to get some second-hand tyres on the vehicle for him so he could get a warrant.
“That’s what we live with.”
Laskey said he thought the Government should reduce GST on fuel to lower the burden on households.
“The petrol is a dollar dearer, so they’re making that extra 15 cents on the dollar. Maybe that’s where they could reduce?
“Or people have to start walking.”
– RNZ