Petrol price hits record

Petrol surged yesterday to its highest ever price at many New Zealand pumps after increases by three of the big four oil companies.

BP, Shell and Caltex all lifted their prices for 91-octane petrol by 4c a litre to 177.9c - a cent higher than the previous record in mid-2006.

Mobil was still selling 91-octane fuel for 173.9c in Auckland last night, as was Gull Petroleum, which said it would press ahead with plans for a 26-hour discount of 5c a litre from 7am today to celebrate the start of the cricket test between England and the Black Caps.