The great Wellington fuel rip-off
Having just returned from a road trip to Gisborne, 1300km, we kept an eye on fuel prices along the way. Left UH on Thursday and the fuel prices for low octane was $2.04.9/ltr so filled up in Masterton. $1.79.9/ltr (.BEFORE claiming on the AA fuel card) Good price and so near to home too.
From there on they started to vary slightly, highest-- 1 little county fuel stop at $1.91.9, and lowest outside of Masterton,-- $1.81.9 in Palmerston North at a "Waitomo Fuels" station in Tremain ave on the way home. In between they varied slightly around the $184.9 to $1.89.9 mark. Gisborne being $1.85.9.
We arrive home today, Monday 30th and local fuel here has gone up to $2.06.9/ltr. TWO DOLLARS AND SIX POINT NINE CENTS.
Now can anyone tell me WHY we pay such high prices. The shipping fuel storage is at Seatoun. Palmerstons has to be trucked overland. Wairoa's has to be trucked in over mountainous hills and ours needs delivering up to 50km on flat sealed highways.
The sooner Northern Fuels brings competition here the better me thinks. Whats your opinion on the local fuel situation? are we paying a built-in levy somewhere?? You tell me.
Scam Alert: Bank cold calls
ASB is warning customers about reports of cold calls from scammers claiming to be from ASB. These scammers are trying to obtain personal information, including usernames, dates of birth, and verification codes sent to your mobile phone.
🛡️ The "Caller Check" Test
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from ASB and you’re unsure, just ask them for a Caller Check. You will then be able to verify the call through the app.
Remember, banks will:
❌ Never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, or verification codes
❌ Never need to know your full credit card number – especially the CVC
❌ Never ask you to download software or remotely access your device
❌ Never ask you to purchase gift cards or transfer funds.
If you have received a phone call and think your account has been compromised, call ASB on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or visit your local branch.
Poll: Are you still heading to your local for your caffeine fix, or has the $$ changed your habits? ☕
Wellington’s identity is built on its cafe culture, but with costs climbing, that culture is under pressure. We’ve seen the headlines about recent closures, and it’s a tough pill to swallow along with a $6+ coffee.
We all want our favourite spots to stay open, but we also have to balance our own budgets ⚖️
We want to know: How are you handling the "coffee math" in 2026? Are you still heading to your local for a chat and a caffeine fix, or has the cost of living changed your habits?
Keen to read more about "coffee math"? The Post has you covered.
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40.8% I avoid spending money on coffee
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49% I still indulge at my local cafe
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10.2% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
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