Laskeys Auto Service in Paihiatua. Photo / RNZ, Charlotte Cook
By Charlotte Cook of RNZ
It’s an easy alternative for most; fuel prices jump, so you make use of public transport, or pedal power, but for many small towns around New Zealand, it’s simply not an option.
Petrol prices have increased by almost $1 per litre on average in the past month, according to price tracker Gaspy, and diesel even more, as global energy markets react to Iran’s military grip on the Strait of Hormuz following the war launched by the US and Israel.
But for those in the small rural towns, they have little choice but to carry on.
Richard was in Featherston fuelling up at the sole Mobil station. Diesel was at $2.99 while 91 sat at $3.29 per litre.
When asked how he was feeling about the price rises, he said he didn’t know. Why? because he doesn’t look at them.
“Never have, not for years, as soon as it went over $2, it was a waste of time looking at it.”
He said no point fighting what you can’t change.
In small town Eketāhuna, there is just one gas station, owned by the same people as the Four Square, a bookstore, a couple of op shops and an information centre.
It’s at least 30 minutes to the nearest grocery store.
One local said having a car was essential.
“I think people are going to have to look at car-sharing, or going without a car.
“I’ll have to be extra careful, probably only go into Masterton for essentials, maybe once a fortnight rather than once a week.”
Even doing that creates a difficulty: trying to pay for two weeks’ worth of groceries in a bid to save fuel costs, she said.
“It’s not great, it’s pretty scary.”
There’s also no public transport in Eketāhuna to alleviate the stress, something Kevin Ashwell from Woodville knows all about.
He owns Woodville Mart and said the situation was dire: the main road is closed for roadworks on top of a fuel crisis, keeping people away.
“It’s cruel, it puts the price of everything up.
“I’ve never seen so many people short of money, they are now ‘do I pay the insurance?’, ‘No, I won’t because I can’t afford it’, and that’s not going to get any better with a fuel price increase.”
“We have no alternative, we have to drive.
“Everyone uses fuel, we don’t have public transport, no trains, buses, we can’t get a taxi.”
In Paihiatua, Kevin Laskey was seeing a different side of the crisis.
He’s owned Laskey’s Auto and petrol station for 26 years and said the last two weeks had been very interesting.
“Record sales on some days and then not much sales the next days when the fuel prices jump, I’ve never seen it jump 30 odd cents before in one hit.”
He said supply had been ok, but he was astonished by how differently people were purchasing.
“We have the supermarket fuel dockets, 8 cents a litre off at New World, and that’s doubled, everyone is using them if they can to save a little bit.
“People are sorta hearing that there is going to be a price increase and all of a sudden the sales goes up.”
Lucky for Laskey, he also sells bike parts, which are also coming in handy.
“I just had a customer come in and buy a bike seat to get the old bike going so he can ride out to Fonterra, so that’s going to happen potentially more and more.”
In Masterton, one man said he was just trying to keep his vehicle going, well, cause he had to.
“I put $25 in, and it’s not even showing.
“I’ve gotta keep the bloody thing going, can’t do much about the situation ... I’ve got to drive.”
He laughed as he said he can’t cry about it, as that wouldn’t help either.
Wellingtonian Dean Tredray was in Greytown with his 1946 Chevrolet pickup. He said the fuel prices didn’t bother him.
“I’d be happy to pay double to stop them, to stop the Iranians.”
Tredray also had no plans of changing his habits.
“Fuel is like beer, you have to have it”
It’s not the same story for Aimee. She’s become a frequent flyer at the Foxton Waitomo, trying to keep her tank as full as possible for the cheapest price.
“I’ve sort of got a plan right now, if my lever or metre goes down just one line, I’ll fill it up.
“Instead of buying some snacks for my kids, I have to cut down, and that really breaks my heart because I want to feed them more; that’s their joy, the food.”
She was worried about what she would have to cut next if the prices continued to rise.
- RNZ