[Moorf]

Well, it's just shy of $2/litre here now and there's talk of it reaching $2.50 which will be double what it was when we first got here in 2004....

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10511781

How is this affecting commuters by car, and what, if anything, are you or your employers doing about it?

[Familyofmonkeys]

Well, it's just shy of $2/litre here now and there's talk of it reaching $2.50 which will be double what it was when we first got here in 2004....

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10511781

How is this affecting commuters by car, and what, if anything, are you or your employers doing about it?

That's scary reading....I rememeber the headlines when oil was approaching US$100 per barrel, and now it is so much higher it's not a major news item anymore.

Hoping OH will be able to work from home a lot more as kids get older and it is quiet enough to get some work done :roll.....so far his employer have been quite flexible about occasional home working, and if all goes to plan he should be able to do it more in the future.

[Moorf]

There are rumours of a commuter bus being put into action from Darfield to Chch via Kirwee / West Melton / Yaldhurst so that could also be an option.

Mind you, there was once a rumour I was opening up an Indian restaurant in Darfield so the local wire isn't "that" reliable! :roll

I often wonder why they don't put on a commuter train - the track (Transalpine) runs right through all the major townships and into Chch centre and it's barely used (we get maybe 5-8 trains (most coal but also the Transalpine tourist train) in any 24 hours. Any railway enthusiasts coming over? :D

Maybe when the new Noble Village goes in at Yaldhurst (massive development of relatively dense housing) more services to the rural areas will be implemented. Maybe....

[Moorf]

As for $200 / barrel for oil by 2010 - I'll bet early 2009 at the rate it's currently climbing....

[shakyle2906]

Its scandolous isnt it

Luckily i walk to work and hubby only works 5mins away.......he'll be riding his bike if it goes up again!!!

Sharon
xx

[KerryS]

I'm having to commute by car for the first time since coming over here, as there is absolutely no public transport to where I work. It's over $100 a week to fill my car, and that's using the fuel voucher from the supermarket...
It's also terribly dull sitting in traffic in a car - when I use public transport I always read, so my book pile is growing as I have less time to read.
I'm hoping that I can work out of the city office soon, rather than being out here.

[sizzlingbadger]

I go through a tank of diesel a week, costing me around $60 about 4 weeks ago now just shy of $90 :(:no

There's no option for us but to use the van, 15 ks round journey two to three times a day for kindy, school and work. Moving out to the 'dream' lsb 4.5 ks out of town and the next town away from where the kids go to school for us now is rapidly turning into a nightmare.

If it does hit around $2 a litre for diesel not for petrol I'm not sure what we'll be doing as we really can ill afford every day costs now. Very, very worrying times :(

[KelvinAng]

I travel about 25km a day between home and office on a 4-stroke 50cc scooter. A mate at work travels about the same distance to and from work in his car. I pay $9/wk for petrol and he pays $40.

One other colleague lives in Darfield and she needs a top-up every 3-4 days (costing her each time $140). That said, she drives a SUV...

Even with the ridiculous cost of petrol today it's still cheaper for me to use the scooter than use the Metro bus service (not that they go to my office anyway, which is in an industrial area south of Christchurch CBD). Unfortunately the scooter is so underpowered I cannot safely use it on roads faster than 50km/hr.

[nippa&pippa]

I often wonder why they don't put on a commuter train - the track (Transalpine) runs right through all the major townships and into Chch centre and it's barely used (we get maybe 5-8 trains (most coal but also the Transalpine tourist train) in any 24 hours. Any railway enthusiasts coming over? :D


There is discussion on have commuter train from rolleston to chch :nice1 but still in planning stages on having it or not, depend on how many people prepare to use it...

[SharpBlade]

well, my husband cycles to work, the kids cycle to school and I just got a "chariot" trailer thing that I can attached to my bike and the baby seems happy and cosy in there !
Saying that, we love the bus service here in Chch south, it is easy, clean, on time etc..
I would love to live in the countryside but that wouldn't be practical at all.
Apparently, the plans to run a commuter train service from Rolleston into Chch is not financially viable yet. Rolleston has a population of around 7000 and is likely to rise a lot, at which stage they will consider a train service. They are talking about a bus service though.
Laura

[Moorf]

So how much has the price of petrol risen in the UK since we left in Sept 04?

[Caroline and Dave]

This is what it is now

http://www.petrolprices.com/

[Moorf]

I can't remember how much it was when we left :o

[sizzlingbadger]

Think when we left 3 years ago it was around 80p for unleaded but I could be very wrong :o

[dylan]

So how much has the price of petrol risen in the UK since we left in Sept 04?

Filled up car today £1.20.9/litre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:wah

Have seen it as high as £1.33/litre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:wah

Thats up north where average wage is around £15,000 per anum god knows how much the cost is down south :mad:

[Tanya]

Just had to fill up on unleaded 95 petrol here in CHCH - 206.9c per litre :no

Tanya

[Moorf]

Crikey Tanya - tell me where that was and I'll make sure we avoid it!

[Tanya]

Thats the price now... normal unleaded was 200.9 but my car needs that 95 stuff!

Tanya

[Moorf]

Thank god I work from home.... :yes

[Genie]

Good old Tesco are charging 111.6p per litre for bog standard unleaded here. Our 'big' car is in the paper today, hope it sells.

I seem to have no luck with timing and the world economy it seems :roll

[KerryS]

On Monday morning fuel at the Shell at the airport was 193, on Monday night it was 196, today it is 200. A 7 cent increase in just 5 days! Insane...

[DMcG]

I'm in the process of buying a bicycle so I can commute from Royal Oak to Takapuna a couple of times a week. Not really because of the fuel prices, but more because I miss cycling, getting fit - and I love the ferry journey across the harbour.

Even if/when petrol here get's to $2.50 a litre, it'll still be cheaper than the UK.

Dougie

[slider]

This article on the BBC website graphically demonstrates how the cost has changed in recent times. :eek:
It seems worse when confronted with it in this format than when paying at the pumps.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7420792.stm

[peebles16]

Spoke to me Mum on the phone this morning and she reckoned petrol was £1.37 for her up at least 30p since we left in Janaury - scary or what?!

Mind you not much better in NZ :no

Karenx

[chocolate cake]

Good old Tesco are charging 111.6p per litre for bog standard unleaded here. Our 'big' car is in the paper today, hope it sells.

I seem to have no luck with timing and the world economy it seems :roll

From my limited experience all the petrol places here seem to charge the same price, only difference seems to be speed that they put them up. BP seem to be quickest.
I guess problem is that there isn't the competition fromt the supermarkets like in UK.

[Tia Maria]

I don't think this site has been mentioned yet. Fuel prices in NZ, I'm not sure how comprehensive it is, but it could save you a few cents:

www.pricewatch.co.nz

Also one of the Car dealers I was talking to was saying they were going to get in more smaller cars for people making the change because of petrol prices.

Check out this site to see how fuel efficient your car is:

www.rightcar.govt.nz

Cheers

Tia

[Moorf]

Petrols goes up 6 cents... http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1320238/1839707

[benhila]

Just imagine what would be the price tag on a round-way ticket to the UK (and/or Israel in our case) in one year's time if petrol prices keep escalating...

[batgirl1001]

How about CNG? Does NZ promote the use of CNG as an alternative to conventional petrol or diesel?

[jubjub]

I was shocked yesterday, filled up my car nearly $100.... :faint: 3 years ago when we bought that car, it was lucky to be $50 to fill it.

I now give consideration to each journey I do in the car, and no longer go wandering off just to kill half an hour or so at the mall...

[richard]

I was shocked yesterday, filled up my car nearly $100....

I paid $140 to fill up tonight and that will only get me around 350km's before I have to fill up again

:exit

[Moorf]

Jag or Caldina?!

[benandclare]

One of my fellow workers today filled up with diesel and tried to pay with his Shell card but monthly limit has already been exceeded......... had to bail him out from my private account....... been re-imbursed ;)

[Tanya]

Jag or Caldina?!

It was the jag!!

Tanya

[sbinder]

There are rumours of a commuter bus being put into action from Darfield to Chch via Kirwee / West Melton / Yaldhurst so that could also be an option.

I often wonder why they don't put on a commuter train - the track (Transalpine) runs right through all the major townships and into Chch centre and it's barely used (we get maybe 5-8 trains (most coal but also the Transalpine tourist train) in any 24 hours. Any railway enthusiasts coming over? :D

Maybe when the new Noble Village goes in at Yaldhurst (massive development of relatively dense housing) more services to the rural areas will be implemented. Maybe....

Moorf, sorry for the late response. But I wouldn't count on commuter rail anytime in our lifetimes - Chch is just too spread-out and without geographic constraints to force the higher densities required to support rail. A commuter bus is a possibility, but the high gas prices are squeezing public transit too, so not a guarantee. When I left Seattle, my firm was working on their new light rail, which will open up in a year. But Chch is just too small to be able to pay for such luxuries...

On the flip side, if you don't want to wait, there are a pile of houses for sale all around me near the city centre, and pretty frequent bus service everywhere (except Darfield, that is!).

[Moorf]

It was the jag!!

Tanya

Crikey, my Scooby-Doo takes just over $105!! Mind you, I think get a wee bit more mileage out of it (and I do run it down to fumes, which turned out not to be such a great idea last week :o )

[Janey]

Thought I would add to this we have had a recent strike over here which has meant petrol stations running out panic buying etc prices now for unleade range fron £1.15-£1.20 and diseal £1.25-£1.30 however in the strike on garaage locally put its price up to £1.99 per litre for both equivalent to £9 per gallon!!!!

[M-Squared]

When we left the US 8 months ago, it was, from memory, about US$2.40 a gallon. Now it's $4 a gallon!

Here in April last year it was $1.52 (ok ok 151.9) a litre. It's "only" increased one third since then. :eek:

Better than the US in the last 8 months, have to say.

OK I know that's of little relief, but it's still (naughty me!) something I do compare.

[jo b]

Hi all,

now prices are extortionate but there is lots less traffic on the roads. The Manchester Evening News front page last week had a picture at 4.45pm city centre, absolutely NO traffic around. So good news is it has put people back on public transport and I see many more cyclists about, even I have dusted off the old bike for local trips to the shops.
On the radio the other week it said that in the USA small cars sales are outweighing 4x4 for the first time ever. Makes you wonder if it's a consipirisy (sp).

Jo

[batgirl1001]

Petrol is at an all time high. In my country (I haven't moved yet) 92 octane is $2.30 and 98 octane is $2.78 per litre which is about the same in NZ dollars.

Are there cars which uses CNG, meaning compressed natural gas. It is far cheaper than petrol something like US$0.15 a litre.

But does NZ have or use CNG? I haven't heard about it in NZ yet but there has been a stronger demand for cars to be converted to CNG.

Otherwise, how are the hybrid cars in NZ?

[JandM]

Here are some possible leads. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=cars+on+CNG+NZ

[Hejwitch_uk]

My round trip to work is 90 miles and I'm in a diesel car - £1.30 litre. OH goes in a different direction, 40 mile round trip daily unleaded petrol - £ 1.22 litre. Very rural area with no public transport. Currently having to reduce food shop to pay for fuel. :wah DEFINITELY moving to a city location in NZ.

[JandM]

Very rural area with no public transport.Same as us, here in the south. Growling whenever politicians talk about not 'selfishly' using cars, and buying new ones for the latest fuel-efficiency/low emissions technology (oh, yeah, with whose money?).

[Hejwitch_uk]

:yes totally know what you mean, we really have NO choice but to use car/s - one of the reasons I want to move - my footprint is getting ever bigger; there are those who could call me Sasquatch! :exit

[Chiba]

Am I the only Peak Oil (http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net) believer? I've been harping on about this for years, and although there's a certain warm glow of smugness in not getting called a crank quite so often, it still scares the :eek: out of me.

[dilanium]

I've been preaching about Peak Oil to my family for years. I mean there was a reason I bought one of the most gas efficient cars available (non-hybrid).

Here's hoping I can get by without a car in Palmy for awhile until I can afford something gas efficient.

[Hippywench]

I've been expecting Peak Oil for years. Unfortunately at the moment I am forced to drive my car a lot due to the useless public transport system.
When we move, we're intending to live within walking distance of work.

[mish&al]

Do you think that the price of petrol will slow down the hoons or am I dreaming??!!;)

I paid $1.67 with my 5c a litre fuel discount in Western Sydney today..:wah

Lucky I only have a baby car..

Mish

[KerryS]

I paid $1.67 with my 5c a litre fuel discount in Western Sydney today..:wah


$2.10 at Shell here. ($2.09 at the airport though), and $2.12 at BP.
Australia has always had cheaper fuel than NZ though.

[mish&al]

Wow! That's a shocker! And our country is complaining about it hitting $1.70!

I guess if you converted the dollar it would probably work out similar..

I would use public transport, but we don't have any.:no

[dharder]

my footprint is getting ever bigger;

Unfortunately, my footprint here in NZ is lots bigger than it was in the UK, but that is largely due to public transport being available in London.

But I would make closeness to work (or availablity of accessible and affordable public transport) definitely one of the highest priorities for the next househunt (whenever that may be)!

Daniela

[chocolate cake]

Commute time for me is similar to what it was in UK, but I'm three times nearer work in terms of distance. I now commute on the bike instead of company car, so only footprint I seem to be incurring is the innertubes and rubber patches from the amount of glass that's on the typical Auckland roads :mad:- two more punctures this week.

[Adders]

When we left the US 8 months ago, it was, from memory, about US$2.40 a gallon. Now it's $4 a gallon!


M-squared - at my location, it's closer to 4.65 / gallon - and how people do complain about the high cost of fuel as they are filling their SUV's and pick up trucks! :laugh

[Chiba]

...innertubes and rubber patches from the amount of glass that's on the typical Auckland roads :mad:- two more punctures this week.

Are you running Kevlar belted tyres? If not, they might help out a little at least.

[dharder]

so only footprint I seem to be incurring is the innertubes and rubber patches from the amount of glass that's on the typical Auckland roads :mad:- two more punctures this week.

It's amazing, isn't it? I've complained on the council website. If I had the time, I'd list every bit of Remuera Road with glass on it separately and send it to them.

At one intersection, the shattered bits of glas after a collision have been on the road for over a week now. Anyone know what the half-life of headlight glass is?

Daniela, who by now has a shortcut to the council online requests website...

[sbinder]

M-squared - at my location, it's closer to 4.65 / gallon - and how people do complain about the high cost of fuel as they are filling their SUV's and pick up trucks! :laugh

Ha! Before I left in March, I recall whining about paying $3.50/gallon, even with my fuel discount, at the Ballard Safeway. One advantage to moving without a car - if done properly - you conveniently remove, at least temporarily, the cost of maintaining and filling your SUV... :D

[boatieman]

You think thats bad!!!
Filled up the boat at the weekend it was pretty low. Only put in 270 ltrs of ul. Price eek!
Might fit it with wheels or get a pair of oars. Or dump one of the 150hp motors
This time last year ul was only 83c at Mt mauganui Bp

Help!

[Familyofmonkeys]

We were feeling rather smug with ourselves for keeping this weeks grocery shopping down to $124...and then did this months fuelling up the car. Scary $106....and that was with a saving of $8 from our New World 15c per litre voucher :wah

[steveybj]

I am trying to keep this within the thread, I moving to Auckland in December with my wife and 3 year old, we have looked at suburbs etc but due to commuting costs we now looking at initially renting a furnished apartment on the city fringe so we can walk/cycle to work, I am just after opinions on auckland appartments for a small family, I have been on trademe etc, our budget would be around $450, the fact being I would prefer to spend my money on housing than sitting in traffic to get to work.. any thoughts/experiences with Auckland apartments?

steve

[Familyofmonkeys]

I am trying to keep this within the thread, I moving to Auckland in December with my wife and 3 year old, we have looked at suburbs etc but due to commuting costs we now looking at initially renting a furnished apartment on the city fringe so we can walk/cycle to work, I am just after opinions on auckland appartments for a small family, I have been on trademe etc, our budget would be around $450, the fact being I would prefer to spend my money on housing than sitting in traffic to get to work.. any thoughts/experiences with Auckland apartments?

steve

We stayed in a serviced apartment in CBD for our first month in Auckland with our kids who were 4, 2, 3 months at the time. We liked the fact that OH was home really early from work everyday, and there are plenty of parks around for walks etc so we got to take the kids out most evenings before bed. With only one child you could proabably find something with enough room/cheap enough fairly easily. There are a few childcare providers in CBD, but they are private (not cheap) and there is only one primary school (it is a Jewish private school, but will accept children of other faiths) so you might need to look outside the CBD for schooling if you plan to remain there long term. One thing to consider though, is that a lot of the apartments do not have child safe windows......we looked a a few and there were no safety locks at the top of any windows, just the standard catch to close that a 3 year old could reach. We were unable to open any of the sliders while we were in an apartment in case any of our children realised they did actually open and try and do it themselves.

[Familyofmonkeys]

More in the news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7512971.stm

[sasvanb]

We were feeling rather smug with ourselves for keeping this weeks grocery shopping down to $124...and then did this months fuelling up the car. Scary $106....and that was with a saving of $8 from our New World 15c per litre voucher :wah

Am I reading you right? Only $106 for the whole month's fuel? Do you not drive much??! It easily costs me near £100 a month in UK on fuel :eek:and that's for a 20min commute to and from work Mon-Fri... and maybe the odd trip at the weekend, which I'm trying to keep to a minimum with the prohibitive UK fuel costs! :mad:

[Familyofmonkeys]

Am I reading you right? Only $106 for the whole month's fuel? Do you not drive much??! It easily costs me near £100 a month in UK on fuel :eek:and that's for a 20min commute to and from work Mon-Fri... and maybe the odd trip at the weekend, which I'm trying to keep to a minimum with the prohibitive UK fuel costs! :mad:

OH commutes via bus, so all I have is 2 kindy runs on 3 days per week (daughter at school 1 minute walk away now), plus weekend swimming & shopping etc....all less than 5 minutes drive away. Also when we arrived last year it used to cost us around $80 to fill up.....I suppose the increase in cost is more scary than the actual amount it costs.

[sasvanb]

Yeah I actually hope to use public transport more often over there (we're heading for Wellington) ... so I think that will help. I suppose it is just a case of what you're used to paying. But I'm quietly hopeful that we'll find the cost of fuel in NZ a pleasant surprise after UK in recent months... even if it is still going up there too! :roll

[julius]

I've seen LPG isn't commonly used. It's easy to put a LPG system in a petrol motor, but the price is quite high compared to petrol in NZ. That's a pitty.

I spend 200€+ each month only to commute (what would be more than 400$). It's a rule here that diesel became more expensive than petrol (+10%), well more than a half of cars are running on diesel here plus all buses, trucks, machines... What I want to says is, that diesel powered cars are not long term replacement for petrol (what I saw in some advertisements over NZ on internet). Also from ecological point of view.

Are highways payable in NZ?