WELLINGTON – New Zealanders have lined up at petrol stations this week to get the last pump of government fuel discount as the subsidy ended on Friday after 15 months, reported Xinhua.
The full fuel tax will be reintroduced on Saturday, July 1, which brings an end to the current 25 cents per litre tax discount.
The subsidy started in March last year to help New Zealanders cope with soaring fuel prices and the cost of living.
The rising fuel price had burdened many New Zealanders during the first few months of last year.
A customer, giving her name as Rachel at a petrol station, said on Friday the fuel price hike from Saturday will affect her budget as her daily commute relied heavily on her car as public transport is “not reliable”.
The price hike will also affect the income of Uber drivers.
Meanwhile, the discount on road user charges will end on Saturday. Half-price public transport will also be replaced by normal prices for most adults. However, from Saturday, children aged five to 12 will be able to use public transport free of charge and half-price discounts remain for those aged 13 to 24.
The New Zealand economy is grappling with high inflation and rising interest rates. The country has entered into recession when its gross domestic product fell for the second quarter, according to the statistics department, Stats NZ, earlier this month. – Bernama
