Who's fleecing who?

David Chaston calls out the PM for a populist outburst that isn't backed up by the facts at the petrol pump. The largest cost component of fuel is tax now taking almost half the discounted price paid

20th Aug 19, 2:40pm by David Chaston

Following the release of a Commerce Commission draft report suggesting the retail fuel market in New Zealand is not competitive enough, the Government has come out swinging.

It is accusing fuel retailers of "fleecing" their customers.

The Prime Minister is reported as saying: "Our instinct was certainly that New Zealanders were being fleeced at the pump, now the Commerce Commission has confirmed that that is true."

"I can tell New Zealanders we cannot stand by as they are facing that pressure at the pump and while they are being fleeced."

The report is a long and detailed one and does seem to make the case this market may not be competitive enough.

But the Prime Minister should be careful about flashing the word 'fleecing" too aggressively.

That is because voters notice the fuel price at the pump.

And it is easy to compare pump prices weekly using the Government's own analysis as published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment.

Regular readers will know that we track this weekly release and chart the key components here.

And it clearly shows that from the time the current Government was elected, pump prices have risen 15.2% in almost two years, and far higher than the 3.6% rise in inflation in that time.

Petrol buyers know that the cost of fuel is made up of three essential components:

- the cost of crude oil
- the cost of importing, refining and distributing the product
- taxes imposed on ourselves as duties, levies, regional taxes and GST (with part of the GST being a tax-on-a-tax)

And we can track those changes over time, identifying the main drivers of that +15.2% rise.

Nationally, this is what the data shows:

	25-Aug-17	9-Aug-19	change
	cents per litre		cents	%
Retail price, discounted	185.65	213.95	+28.30	+15.2%

Crude oil in US dollars	50.20	57.36	+7.16	+14.3%
Crude oil in NZ dollars	69.14	88.28	+19.15	+27.7%

Import, refine, distribute	25.81	20.51	( 5.31)	-20.6%

Government taxes	90.70	105.16	+14.46	+15.9%

The largest cost rise affecting the pump price is for crude oil. But that is not because of the international price, rather it is due to the fact that the exchange rate has moved significantly against us. In August 2017 NZ$1 was worth US72.6 cents. On August 9, 2019 it was down to just US65c. Clearly we need to spend more New Zealand dollars to buy the same volume of crude oil. No-one in New Zealand can really control the cost of crude oil, and international forces set our exchange rate.

The next largest rise is from taxes. This is something the Prime Minister can directly control. And Government actions have caused this to rise almost 16% over this period.

In the same period we have seen aggressive fuel discounting. It may well be the case that there was plenty of room to discount the product as the Commerce Commission suggests. But it has clearly been discounted over the two years. In spite of the rising costs, the retailers now take less than 10% of the pump price to import the product, refine it, distribute it and market it. And they make a profit doing so.

But you can't hide from the fact that this is the smallest component of the pump price.

The largest component, is the one controlled by the Government and is the one growing very much faster than inflation.

It is clearly wrong to conclude that the fuel retailers are 'fleecing' their customers. It is not 'fleecing' when they reduced the share of the pump price by 21%.

So what should we accuse those who have increased their take at the pump by 16%? Gouging?

The Commerce Commission seems to have done good work identifying some potential market issues.

But loose and inflammatory accusations made for cheap political points scoring undermines that work when it is clear to any motorist filling up at the pump that the sharp rise in prices has nothing to do with the fuel retailers, and all to do with the politician making the accusation.

If anything, by reducing their share of the pump price, those retailers gave the Government cover to raise taxes even more aggressively. They are certainly not getting any thanks from the prime suspect. Sadly, today's outburst fits the modern political strategy of accusing your opponent of your own flaws.

Back to the detail, we can extract the Auckland component from the national table above because they pay a regional fuel tax, and then also reveal the same data for the rest of New Zealand without Auckland, which at the moment is not paying any regional fuel taxes.

Auckland	25-Aug-17	9-Aug-19	change
	cents per litre		cents	%
Retail price, discounted	185.65	222.55	+36.90	+19.9%

Crude oil in US dollars	50.20	57.36	+7.16	+14.3%
Crude oil in NZ dollars	69.14	88.28	+19.15	+27.7%

Import, refine, distribute	25.81	20.51	( 5.31)	-20.6%

Government taxes	90.70	113.76	+23.06	+25.4%

Rest of New Zealand	25-Aug-17	9-Aug-19	change
	cents per litre		cents	%
Retail price, discounted	185.65	209.32	+23.68	+12.8%

Crude oil in US dollars	50.20	57.36	+7.16	+14.3%
Crude oil in NZ dollars	69.14	88.28	+19.15	+27.7%

Import, refine, distribute	25.81	20.51	( 5.31)	-20.6%

Government taxes	90.70	100.53	+9.83	+10.8%

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147 Comments

by powerdownkiwi | 20th Aug 19, 2:54pm 1566269666

Yep. She's smart in many ways, and the PM I'd rather have when TSHTF.

But she's on the wrong end of this - something Megan Woods should have been briefed on when they took over. We are now in uncharted territory, where the practice of ever-bigger bets on the future were expected to be underwritten by ever-more energy (to do the ever-more work) being available. Now, the Govt, along with everyone else, is stuck trying to value something that is in/un-valuable.

Taxing energy is the best way to relate social project underwriting, to something real, though. Let's not forget that.

by kane02 | 20th Aug 19, 2:58pm 1566269900

she's the last person I want in charge when TSHTF. She is an economic imbecile

by powerdownkiwi | 20th Aug 19, 3:21pm 1566271263

Anyone who thinks economic training is useful at this stage in global affairs, is a little behind, cognitively-speaking.

We chose to lie to ourselves, by believing economists and believing in 'GDP'. We did that while we extracted the best energy resources on the planet, in a never-to-be-repeated spree. And - as this and other related pieces make clear - we failed to measure properly. Therefore, I see no use for the echelon who led us, nor their shonky 'discipline'.

by Pragmatist | 20th Aug 19, 3:24pm 1566271480

Fro once we agree. she's a good PR person, but GM or CEO she is not.

by Carlos67 | 21st Aug 19, 4:18pm 1566361120

She could't run a corner dairy.

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 3:39pm 1566272375

Thank you Kane ........... practically no one in her kitchen cabinet has any connection to the real world , they have never actually had to make a Dollar , they have resided in Monastic environments like the Beehive or academia and are clueless as to what is actually involved in running a business

by RickStrauss | 20th Aug 19, 4:28pm 1566275300

Bill English was the same, just to be clear.

by Foxglove. | 20th Aug 19, 4:41pm 1566276068

For the record no great fan of BE, during his tenure as leader of the opposition, he was quite frankly inept and embarrassing. But to be fair he was brought up on the family farm, he could claim the hands on experience of that, he can shear a sheep after all, and know his way round the agriculture sector, like any farmer would need to.

by RickStrauss | 20th Aug 19, 10:18pm 1566296295

Finance and dags, certainly a lot in common.

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 4:43pm 1566276206

@RickStrauss , you seem to forget that the OECD recognized Bill English as one of the best Finance Ministers in the entire bloc .

John Key's administration saw us the darlings of the post GFC era and the envy of everyone , and to be fair our taxes were the lowest in my working career , intrerest rates were the lowest in my lifetime , corporate profits were high as ever , the stock market boomed with the listing of power companies , and our housing wealth rose to unseen heights

Rock Star economy it was

Now we are a bunch of dope smoking losers running a Garage Band in Onehunga

by Brendon | 20th Aug 19, 5:08pm 1566277681

Ah yes those were the days -the rentier economy going full tilt due to rising housing prices and immigration population growth with a bit of foreign investment into housing on the side.

by Houseworks | 20th Aug 19, 5:53pm 1566280381

Rentier Definition:
"a person living on income from property or investments"
Many here just imply that rentier means rentals but they might find to their disapproval they are probably included. What about you Brendon are you a rentier?

by Brendon | 20th Aug 19, 6:43pm 1566283438

Rentiers are unproductive capitalism. Often taking advantage of market distortions, such as monopolies. NZ's housing market has been poorly regulated leading many participants targeting capital gain....

by Houseworks | 20th Aug 19, 6:53pm 1566284011

I think that means yes but you're in denial. The definition refers to the income from investments being used to pay for the living expenses of the recipient.

by Brendon | 20th Aug 19, 8:51pm 1566291097

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent-seeking

by Houseworks | 20th Aug 19, 10:19pm 1566296396

No that's not what you said you originally referred to rentier. HOWEver would you say that "rent seekers" create new wealth if they build new housing. I think they do in which case the definition is incorrect or at least inadequate.

by Brendon | 21st Aug 19, 1:39am 1566308366

If NZ had built more housing, especially more affordable modest size housing, because structural changes meant housing supply was more elastic then there wouldn't have been housing inflation. Therefore no distorted housing market, no housing inflation, no rent seeking behaviour and no rentier economy (maybe -there would still be all the other monopolies and cartels to bust -but you get the point).

by RickStrauss | 20th Aug 19, 5:24pm 1566278643

you seem to forget that the OECD recognized Bill English as one of the best Finance Ministers in the entire bloc .

Well done on demolishing your original point then.

by powerdownkiwi | 20th Aug 19, 5:45pm 1566279939

Boatman - Bill English had six children on a seriously overpopulated planet.

That tells me he can't count, or was arrogant in an entitled way.

Either way, I wouldn't give him points for anything. In his time, we just got more resource-depleted.

by Boatman | 21st Aug 19, 6:07pm 1566367656

@powerdownkiwi ........ who gives a >>>>>>>>> how many children Bill English has ?

My wife is one of six , her father was one of eleven , and my mother was one of 6

And Valerie Adams has an astonishing 19 siblings

If you are Catholic or Baptist and you follow the doctrine ............. no contraception and go forth and multiply , you will have many offspring , and that is Gods will

So unless you want to bring in more migrants , you should count yourself lucky there are some Kiwis who are able to shag and breed like rabbits

by Independent_Observer | 21st Aug 19, 10:47am 1566341258

And where has the 'rock star' economy left us? Was the party going to keep on rolling to infinity if JK and BE continued doing whatever they were doing? Sprinkling BS and fairy dust on low interest rates, high immigration and debt creation and calling it a strong economy? Come on Boatman that's rubbish. We'd be in the same position now with the economy if National were still in power - its a cycle and the last National party were fortunate enough to be in power over the growth phase. JK knew it was over hence he jumped ship from government then sold his house as well!

by Halfway To Paradise | 21st Aug 19, 12:06pm 1566345995

The Good Old Days

by J.C. | 20th Aug 19, 5:13pm 1566278026

Bill English was the same, just to be clear.

Yes, but now on the board of Wesfarmers. Says much about business in 2019. Revolving doors of privilege.

by bob cotton | 21st Aug 19, 10:28am 1566340138

Oh baby baby its a wild world. Hard to get by just upon a smile....and a head scarf.

by kane02 | 20th Aug 19, 2:58pm 1566269907

I want my tax dollars back on the waste of money JA has ploughed into the ComCom for a pointless investigation. Nothing but smoke and mirrors.

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 4:59pm 1566277193

So this hapless COL Government has finally woken up to the fact that an increase in the cost of fuel filters its way into absolutely everything from the tractor using diesel to plant potatoes to the diesel loco train carrying timber to the port , the truck delivering food delivered to Pak n save and the bus taking our kids to school , not to mention the cost of running a police car or ambulance .

And the cost to the tradesmen who go to site , or the worker driving to work

And the person who carries 100% of the burden of fuel tax increases is the end consumer .......... thats you and me and ever voter

by Independent_Observer | 21st Aug 19, 10:55am 1566341731

So are you saying this government is to blame for high fuel prices?

Where do we get our tax from if as a society we are unwilling to tax the rich via a wealth tax? (i.e. comprehensive capital gains?).

Or do we just allow this form of capitalism to run where monopolies/oligopolies continue to rort the system while paying (competent..?) management excessive salaries? If there's no competetition, why do we even need management in those companies? It would make sense if there was competition to pay management well - but if there's not, aren't high wages just a deadweight loss - i.e. adds no value, increases cost. That perhaps is where we should be focusing our blame - and not on the government that is trying to get a clear picture of the issue.

by Independent_Observer | 21st Aug 19, 10:49am 1566341388

But you don't want cheaper fuel? Confused...

by Fritz | 20th Aug 19, 3:03pm 1566270182

Very good piece of journalism
There's clearly some market issues that need addressing, but the use of the term'fleecing' is problematic.

by Foxglove. | 20th Aug 19, 3:09pm 1566270541

Populist outburst! Now ain’t that a fact. Those two words sadly, sum up both the culture and priorities, of our present day politicians.

by tim52 | 20th Aug 19, 3:26pm 1566271573

I'm pretty sure the word "fleeced" from the PM is a socialist outburst. Ardern is too progressive for me to consider her a populist.

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 3:59pm 1566273547

@tim ...... fleeced by whom ?

The first though that comes to mind is Miss Jacinda Pot describing the Kettle in racist terms

by JimboJones | 20th Aug 19, 9:08pm 1566292101

Petrol taxes in NZ are effectively user paid roads. A socialist would prefer general taxation to pay for roads wouldn’t they?

by tim52 | 20th Aug 19, 9:40pm 1566294010

When she says "... New Zealanders were being fleeced at the pump...", I was suggesting she is framing the situation to fit a class struggle where the petrol station owners had control of the means of production and were using this to exploit us.
David points out this is questionable as the government has a much larger cut of fuel prices than the fuel companies (who can only make profit on 10 to 20 percent of the price) but I completely disagree with him that Jacinda, the ex President of the International Union of Socialist Youth, has any populist leanings or desire to promote it.

by Hamish | 20th Aug 19, 3:30pm 1566271804

The deputy will probably undermine her (again) before the end of the day.

by Foyle | 20th Aug 19, 3:32pm 1566271975

Peter's is in hospital getting surgery on his knee

by Gummy Bear Hero | 20th Aug 19, 3:41pm 1566272519

RKS ...repetitive knee strain ... from going down on it so often , every election year ... since Adam was a lad...

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 5:21pm 1566278513

Peters is another also-ran who is in, and then out of Parliament, like a train at Clapham Junction

by Foxglove. | 20th Aug 19, 5:43pm 1566279833

Yep but at least, if you want to develop your train analogy, he has been a better brakeman, than no brakeman, on the not so goods train from the left!

by printer8 | 20th Aug 19, 3:12pm 1566270741

Good article David. It is important that Jacinda is called to account; she is increasing becoming simply one who is seen as simply voicing shallow populist comments - a Prime Minister increasingly becoming a show-pony with no grunt.
Besides comments on the report on petrol prices today, she also took the view on TV this morning regarding landlords being in a power position over tenants - again a cheap reactionary populist statement. A landlord giving away considerable control of property worth $500,000 is not necessarily one of be in a position of power - in fact, a situation that many landlords feel very nervous about when it comes to risk of rent not being paid, unacceptable behaviours, and risk of damage.
So for today's score - bleeding-heart populist comments 2 vs. things implemented 0. Just another day.
By stating at the start of the year that this was the year of delivery; this was an admission that little had been achieved in the first fifteen months of power and little has been achieved in the nine months since.
Rants about KiwiBuild have come to nothing; changing gun legislation was both a no-brainer and simply passing legislation, which given the mood of the country ,would not be seriously contested. In the wider coalition, questions are stilled being asked about the effectiveness of the Shane Jones slush fund (other than for NZF election chances in Northland), and as far as the Greens go, simply using ministerial power to curtail oil and gas exploration, curtailing the future of the Waihi mine, and banning plastic bags, little has been achieved.
I was really looking forward to implementation of some good effective social policies but this has not been achieved to date.

by powerdownkiwi | 20th Aug 19, 3:27pm 1566271636

Actually, landlords are parasitic upon tenant incomes, and the 'asset' wouldn't be worth so much if the landlords stood aside. Perhaps the tenant could buy the house instead - and probably care for it better out of pride and self-enhancement, comfort-wise.

Heck, perhaps landlords could do something constructive instead.

The problem is that the voting populace won't disadvantage their short-term selves - and she (as we saw with shelving the CGT) is stuck representing that. Which means that, ecologically, we're stuffed.

by printer8 | 20th Aug 19, 3:40pm 1566272432

Powderdownkiwi; weak senseless waffle from one who has never have been a landlord.

by powerdownkiwi | 20th Aug 19, 4:25pm 1566275154

Sorry, I'd just never come across one like you, who does it for entirely altruistic reasons.

by D581 | 20th Aug 19, 8:36pm 1566290160

Didn't you know powerdown, landlords in NZ are absolute saints providing shelter to the great unwashed out of the pure goodness of their hearts. So what if they're a key driver in pushing house prices out of reach of the same people they're renting to? They maintain excellent accommodation that is warm, dry and definitely doesn't cause people to contract what we once thought of as third-world illnesses. Shame on this mean Labour Government for picking on landlords by making them do things they claim they do already. They deserve a desperate, captive market that will pay a third of their wages in perpetuity regardless of the condition of the property.

by THE MAN 2 | 20th Aug 19, 7:27pm 1566286066

PowderdownKiwi, you have got no idea about what landlords do for tenants!
We personally provide quality accommodation to people that don’t either want to own or can not afford to own!
It is the tenants choice as to whether they want to rent or not, and that is determined by the choices that they make!
If you think it is all beer and skittles, then I suggest that you become a landlord and then come back and tell us that we are parasitic.
We personally maintain all properties to a excellent standard and while you are sitting on your butt, we are possibly fixing a water leak or blocked drain etc.
Landlords deserve every cent of profit that they receive as they are running a business.
I reiterate, have a crack yourself if you have the desire or ability!

by rastus1 | 20th Aug 19, 4:00pm 1566273624

The problem is I'm subsiding you through WFF and tax breaks (and you've just been thrown a share of another $54 Mill).. When you can operate without support from the tax payer I might believe you.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-measures-help-those-facing-hom…

by Kate | 20th Aug 19, 4:07pm 1566274048

And accommodation supplements.

by powerdownkiwi | 20th Aug 19, 4:23pm 1566274988

Chuckle. I should go to Fish and Game and get a permit, if I'm gonna land them that easily.

by Houseworks | 20th Aug 19, 4:28pm 1566275323

The AS does not go to landlords it goes straight into tenants bank accounts to spend as they please. And lets not forget it is also homeowners themselves receiving AS. I dont doubt that some have come to rely on it in order to pay rent but there are other tenants who comfortably paid rent before getting AS.

by D581 | 20th Aug 19, 9:38pm 1566293899

How is it still a choice to rent when house prices have been going up at many times the rate of inflation and wage increases?

by Houseworks | 20th Aug 19, 10:27pm 1566296863

.... yes because of interest rate reductions :p

by D581 | 20th Aug 19, 10:39pm 1566297563

The ones that reduce your term rates when you're saving for that 20% deposit ;)

by Independent_Observer | 21st Aug 19, 11:07am 1566342463

The same interest people need to save for a deposit on their first home (which gets taxed..)?

by Nzdan | 21st Aug 19, 11:57am 1566345446

Not to mention it's a double edged sword where they must save a much larger deposit due to house price inflation off the back of low interest rates (cheap credit).

Low Deposit + High Savings Interest Rate versus High Deposit + Low Savings Interest Rate.

by Independent_Observer | 21st Aug 19, 4:36pm 1566362166

But don't forget that its the renters fault for not being astutue enough to be born 20 years earlier and own 3 rentals by now

by mikekirk29 | 20th Aug 19, 4:15pm 1566274518

Lots of Labour supporters on here plainly. One question: which is better rental investment or capital and industrial in terms if GDP growth? And which do banks give debt to?

by Houseworks | 20th Aug 19, 4:30pm 1566275422

Gobbledegook

by scarfie | 20th Aug 19, 8:07pm 1566288462

Only to the illiterate.

by Houseworks | 20th Aug 19, 10:21pm 1566296512

Haha!

by powerdownkiwi | 20th Aug 19, 5:49pm 1566280151

Why use GDP growth as a measure?

by Wazim | 21st Aug 19, 4:10pm 1566360628

Hi Printer8, I agree with almost your entire post but I feel the need to ask you, what was it about changing 'gun legislation' that was a 'no brainer' for you? When the final bill is tallied and the legitimate law abiding firearms community have handed in approximately 10% of the targeted firearms (sorry for the pun) the taxpayer will have spent well over a billion dollars and the criminals will still have 100% of their illegal firearms. What will have been achieved except for a cheap-shot blow to the sporting and farming community and a brief blaze of glory on the world stage? My personal view as a sporting shooter is that the 'no-brainer' element will in fact be voted out at the next election.

by workingman | 20th Aug 19, 3:08pm 1566270514

Excellent analysis. PM Ardern's assertions originate in, and speak to, a visceral bias in her party and its green coat-tailers. In this echo chamber, oil companies - everyone knows - are thoroughly wicked, so they're absolutely certain to be fleecing us. Unlike local government, building products suppliers, the banks, the supermarkets, the national airline, et al.

by christlucas | 20th Aug 19, 3:15pm 1566270950

There were articles overseas mocking the fact that our Govt put up the tax on petrol prices and then had a commission look into why we have such high petrol prices. Its all smoke and mirrors that a lot of kiwis fall for. Where is our yellow vest movement

by JediNight | 20th Aug 19, 8:18pm 1566289133

A simple gate is enough to keep the sheep in. And grass is enough to keep them occupied.

by GenerationXY | 21st Aug 19, 11:13am 1566342780

You've obviously never kept sheep.....

by JimboJones | 20th Aug 19, 9:10pm 1566292223

What makes you think taxes and companies fleecing are mutually exclusive? Maybe that is why national never looked into our supermarket duopoly after raising GST?

by imhenry | 21st Aug 19, 8:10am 1566331842

Never give up hope they are on the way. Nothing surer the way this Country is being Governed

by bob cotton | 21st Aug 19, 10:20am 1566339652

As long as you can fool half of the people all of the time you can stay in government.

by SailorRob | 20th Aug 19, 3:22pm 1566271320

Woods just rolled into the refinery in Whangarei in a seven series BMW to check out our green initiatives... Don't see her on an E scooter...

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 4:06pm 1566274012

Woods ................... another fool who has spent her entire life in 'research" and politics and never had a proper job

by Foxglove. | 20th Aug 19, 4:42pm 1566276124

Good at lunch though?

by Houseworks | 20th Aug 19, 4:33pm 1566275594

A standard E scooter wouldn't be able to move

by Audaxes | 20th Aug 19, 3:33pm 1566272029

I guess the PM wants to shift the blame prior to next year's election. She must be aware the NPV of forecast government liabilities are at risk of doubling once the RBNZ cuts the OCR another 25bps. Fiscal demands placed on the taxpayer will occur sooner rather than later. The calculated NPV of public government debt alone is not easy to dismiss while current yields discount magnitudes greater term coupon payments.

by kiwi_overseas | 20th Aug 19, 5:43pm 1566279831

1) The government taxes on fuel are hypothecated and go straight back into the transport system. Its no different to what you would pay a private provider (+ their profit margin).

2) Its ComCom & the governments own fault. ComCom should have never allowed the Z fuel merger and the government should strengthen the competition laws. It takes 7 companies with equal market share to have a fully competitive market (HHI Index). Our fuel market is well short of that.

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 4:08pm 1566274101

@kiwi-overseas ......... are you referring to the Z - Caltex merger ?

by andyb | 20th Aug 19, 8:48pm 1566290939

On point 1 you are not entirely correct. The direct fuel taxes are hypothecated but not the GST component.. and the higher the fuel prices go the more GST component increases.

by kiwi_overseas | 20th Aug 19, 9:18pm 1566292696

Yes, you are correct.
Also motorists are charged GST on the fuel excise, which amounts to a tax on a tax. Ideally the GST should be applied first and then the excise tax but this would complicate the GST system.
However one can also argue the GST covers some of cost of the externalities not priced or fully priced into transport

by JimboJones | 20th Aug 19, 9:16pm 1566292561

A 10c tax in Auckland that is clearly needed to help fix the transport issues and a 3c rise across the country that is probably less than road construction inflation. Hardly fleecing is it David?

by Andrewj | 20th Aug 19, 3:30pm 1566271822

poor old Joe public is the one getting fleeced.

by Gummy Bear Hero | 20th Aug 19, 3:46pm 1566272765

. . them with fleas are being fleased ... and ain't that always the way with Labour ... constantly putting the boot into us the great unwashed... them wot they purport to support more than the Gnats do ... ironic ...

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 3:47pm 1566272876

Fleeced Huh ?

Now my Nan, who lived so long ago she once told me she could remember the time of slavery , would suggest the Pot is pointing at the kettle on her AGA STOVE in her little cottage , suggesting it is the colour of a slave

The only people fleecing us are Taxinda ..........and her hell -bent -on -taxing- us- to - poverty , tax and spend Government .

by Gummy Bear Hero | 20th Aug 19, 3:53pm 1566273214

... ingrate ! ... they're doing it for your own good ... you're not fully qualified to live your live correctly . . Taxcinda and her merry taxy crew are .. .

They'll show you the way... now , firstly... PAY UP !!!

by waymad | 20th Aug 19, 4:10pm 1566274202

Fortunately, truck-stop diesel is currently around the $1.21 mark for those with wit enough to be in one of the many fuel-card schemes out there.

by Houseworks | 20th Aug 19, 4:37pm 1566275823

Just want to say, Hamilton diesel is even cheaper and that is BEFORE the fuel card discount. Must be at the right fuel coy

by the Joneses | 20th Aug 19, 4:56pm 1566277018

Seems that they are more or less the same on both sides, regarding taxing fuel. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/11/fact-check-who-taxed-yo…

By the way, name calling is the lowest level of argument according to this guy - https://bigthink.com/paul-ratner/how-to-disagree-well-7-of-the-best-and… - makes sense to me at least.

by mikekirk29 | 20th Aug 19, 4:08pm 1566274092

Specialised missing the point: which is that retailers in place like Warkworth all charge same. Competition is issue. Plus they cut price after an age after oil price drops and put it up immediately when oil goes up. Also your Mr Kerr rather likes strong dollar?

by mikekirk29 | 20th Aug 19, 4:10pm 1566274234

Contributors whining about tax going up: how do you expect improvement to be funded in infrastructure or services? Do you want government funded entirely by debt?

by RickStrauss | 20th Aug 19, 4:31pm 1566275463

They expect someone else to pay for it. Ideally. Maybe a next generation, the ones who will also fund their retirement.

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 4:37pm 1566275869

@mikekirk ........... dont kid yrself mate .

This Government could live within its means just like every one of us 5,0 million Kiwis

The funds taken in fuel levies is not in a dedicated fund , it simply goes into the coffers for general expenditure . And thats the problem

by Brendon | 20th Aug 19, 5:00pm 1566277222

That's BS Boatman -all the fuel tax is spent on transport and still there is a shortfall.

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 5:24pm 1566278697

And therein lies the rub ............. embarking on unbudgeted nonsense like the Auckland underground which has already had a major unfunded blowout

by JimboJones | 20th Aug 19, 9:20pm 1566292817

Which was not paid for by fuel tax.

by RollingOn | 21st Aug 19, 11:48am 1566344882

What infrastructure? All the things we need keep getting cancelled in favour of throwing money down the toilet.

by mikekirk29 | 20th Aug 19, 4:19pm 1566274783

NZ cannot grow it’s infrastructure because it’s tax base for revenue is inadequate and governments insist on20% hairshirt debt to gdp and then people wonder why to get anything done there is endless consultation and delay and not doing proper job.

by Fritz | 20th Aug 19, 4:28pm 1566275328

Just a comment - Jacinda either seems to look very grim, or very happy, in photos

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 4:35pm 1566275719

@Fritz ... all 3 of these fools look positively grim and rattled in the picture ............ and so they should !

They have created this mess , and using words like 'Fleece " to hammer the oil co's , when we know who is responsible for the mess , just makes it worse .

They think we are sheep and just accept being fleeced

by Houseworks | 20th Aug 19, 4:40pm 1566276020

Imagine seeing that face first thing

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 4:45pm 1566276336

@houseworks ..........LOL .. If I woke up to any one of those three faces first thing in the morning , it would be grounds for a divorce .

by Foxglove. | 20th Aug 19, 5:48pm 1566280124

Mr B, be honest. Cast in any one of those bed share arrangements? Well, you wouldn’t wake up would you!

by Nzdan | 20th Aug 19, 4:51pm 1566276696

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/avp/images/4/48/Runner_2.PNG/revisi…

by Houseworks | 20th Aug 19, 10:23pm 1566296616

.... when the make up comes off

by dakiwikid | 20th Aug 19, 4:55pm 1566276928

we were getting fleeced at the pump before Aug 2017.These comparisons are pointless with regards to the fuel companies. Don't show the previous goverment tax increases and doesn't point out the tax increase in Auckland is also due to rates grab by Council rather than rates increase.

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 5:11pm 1566277882

@dakiwikid .......... things were much better under John Key's administration , as even my eldest daughter , who thinks Jacinda is as saintly as Mother Theresa, will attest .

My daughter is spending more on fuel than ever before to get to Middlemore from the Shore ( dont even suggest using the 3 busses especially after dark ) .

In 24 months she has moved 4 times , and her weekly rent for her and 2 others has gone up from $490 to $630 ........on 2 occassions her Asian landlords decided to get out of the rental market as insulation was too expensive so the cancelled the leases and sold up .

Now her new Aussie resident Kiwi landlord has decided to take his capital to Aussie , the property is to be refurbed and sold ......so now she is looking for the 4th time for a place to rent .

by RickStrauss | 20th Aug 19, 5:27pm 1566278836

You should be realistic enough to recognise the effects of the over reliance on property speculation and twice the OECD norm of immigration over the last decade plus, rather than simply parroting Leighton Hosking's latest squawking points.

by Te Kooti | 20th Aug 19, 6:00pm 1566280815

The Govt (supported by 90%+ of this community), want to squeeze landlords out, so she'll either have to suck it up or buy a place.

by Brendon | 20th Aug 19, 4:58pm 1566277093

David I don't think you read the Commerce Commission report. How does the fact that Auckland pays more fuel taxes (which obviously irks you) than Canterbury explain the fact that Canterbury has higher fuel retail prices? How also to explain the widening margins on higher octane fuels when taxes and other costs (distribution costs etc) have not changed?

Personally I would prefer that Canterbury had a regional fuel tax and lower prices due to more competition. That way the bigger tax take could be spent in Canterbury on transport infrastructure we need rather than excessive profits heading off elsewhere. Which by the way I consider is an anti-competitive fleecing.

Check this article out if you don't believe me. A couple of months ago Canterbury's fuel prices were 6 to 7 cents higher than Auckland's. The Commerce Commission work shows this sort of anti-competitive behaviour is continuing.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/114026106/canterbury-petrol-prices-hig…

Often it seems to take left wing political party's to instill market discipline because they understand the difference between governing for capitalists versus capitalism.

by andyb | 20th Aug 19, 8:31pm 1566289908

You also of course understand that the Marsden Point Oil refinery is someway from Canterbury.

If its so much cheaper in Auckland why don't you drive to Auckland and fill up and then drive home. If you can make the math work out then good luck to you.

by Believer1980 | 21st Aug 19, 8:51am 1566334283

Also, having competition in a region as sparsely populated as Canterbury is not as easy as a more densely populated region (like Auckland). Just sit and perform some calculations. The overhead costs will need to be allocated between a much smaller number of customers in Canterbury compared to in Auckland.

by Brendon | 21st Aug 19, 1:14pm 1566350073

Rubbish. Canterbury has NZs second biggest city. Nearly 600,000 people live in Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn. Clearly there isn't competition as the Commerce Commission found. What's the problem with believing the expert evidence provided?

by Squishy | 20th Aug 19, 5:05pm 1566277531

The current governments increase in tax on petrol and diesel only screws working and lower middle class families (who have 'had it good' for too long!) The rest of us can afford newer electric cars and/or buy city apartments. We should commend the government really for pursuing a more brutal policy of imposing the burden of increased taxation on those with lower incomes instead of the rest of us. I'm belatedly becoming a hug fan of our Prime Minister, she is such a unique talent.

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 5:15pm 1566278146

@squishy you are 100% on the money with that comment .

In my case my fuel card is paid by my practice , so it makes little difference to me , but the road worker in his 1999 Hoden v8 gas guzzler is in the gun for the tax .

by JimboJones | 20th Aug 19, 9:25pm 1566293110

I didn’t know you were such a socialist boatman. If you want the government to socialise roads so people don’t have to pay the true costs, why not food, power, toilet paper, etc too?

by JB | 20th Aug 19, 5:14pm 1566278075

What did ComCiom think would be the outcome from the Z Energy / Caltex merger they approved leaving Z with over 50% market share.

Reduced competition equates to higher prices ! That's how market works !

A really dumb decision if I might say so.

Shouldn't overlook the 50 % increase in GST in recent years - 10 to 15 % !

by Boatman | 20th Aug 19, 5:17pm 1566278226

@JB dont get carried away , 10% GST was almost 2 decades ago , thats just 5 years short of a generation

by profile | 20th Aug 19, 5:51pm 1566280279

Mr Trotter. Even the left is waking up. " The hard economic work was never done – and it shows. The Prime Minister’s grasp of the way the New Zealand economy works appears weaker than that of the humblest Alliance parliamentary candidate."

by Fritz | 20th Aug 19, 6:01pm 1566280871

Arden is a very good front person like Key was.
But unlike Key, she is financially illiterate.
However, that is partly compensated for the fact that she genuinely cares for certain things that I don't really think Key gave a hoot about.

by profile | 21st Aug 19, 6:24am 1566325457

Taking fuel tax off factory workers - and giving it to large land owners to plant forests to change the climate, isn't caring - it's deluded.
Shutting down the Lumsden birthing unit resulting in mothers having babies in cars isn't caring. Nor is having another 12k on the dole or white washing over #metoo in her own office.
Fail to see the caring high ground over some guy two PM's ago.

by SmoKey | 20th Aug 19, 6:03pm 1566281022

Only 3/4 petrol companies, behaving like an informal cartel, fleecing Kiwis. Govt wants to take action.
Same situation in Banking. Hope Govt looks at that too. Thanks Jacinda A.

by Carlos67 | 21st Aug 19, 9:48am 1566337693

Yeah but there is "looking into it" and then there is "looking into it and then doing nothing", Labor is all about doing the latter. This whole petrol price thing started back in October last year, nearly a year ago, honestly does it take that long to breakdown the cost of 1 litre of fuel cost wise when you already know the exact amount of tax you taking from it ? Where does it go from here ? some form of Election promise by Labor to reduce the price of fuel ? its a joke.

by Houseworks | 20th Aug 19, 6:13pm 1566281593

Is this topic being used as a distraction from useless govt underperformance? PM ranting like she's the white knight for the driving public. Look out banks you might be next

by powerdownkiwi | 20th Aug 19, 8:09pm 1566288598

She'd be on safer ground - banking is on borrowed time....

by Houseworks | 20th Aug 19, 10:12pm 1566295942

They should try it I want to see the fireworks when the banks get started

by andyb | 20th Aug 19, 6:15pm 1566281758

To commission an investigation as to why we pay so much at the pump when ~50% of which goes to the government is truly one of the funniest things this government has done... and there has been some competition.

Fleeced indeed!

by Boatman | 21st Aug 19, 1:44pm 1566351877

THANK YOU andyb .......... for pointing at the emperor or in this case the empress (?) with no clothes .

Jacinda really got her knickers in a knot over this ............. and she can only blame herself

by Pergi la | 20th Aug 19, 8:23pm 1566289433

Let’s face it NZ is a second world country masquerading as first world. Your problem can be seen here in many of the comments. The tone should be positive about growing the economy rather than bitching about your share of the little cake. If the PM gets re-elected it says only that she appeals to the common denominator. That common denominator is going backwards both economically, intellectually and socially. NZ great place to have a holiday home, wouldn’t want to pay tax or live there

by powerdownkiwi | 20th Aug 19, 9:10pm 1566292236

Going backwards intellectually; perfectly demonstrated by 'growing the economy'.

Thank you for that.

by andyb | 20th Aug 19, 8:43pm 1566290601

Can I make a prediction.... the Commerce Commission will make some recommendations and not one thing will be done by this Government to enact them.

No, not because they fail to listen to any workforce/taskforce/commissions advice but because they will realise that anything that dramatically reduces the prices paid at the pump will affect their GST take and Robertson knows he needs every cent he can get.

There is no way they would do anything to lower their own take.

by powerdownkiwi | 20th Aug 19, 9:05pm 1566291927

Correct. Take it back a focus-notch or two, and we can say that no government dare do anything to slow, repress or cease 'growth'.

So we can forget our current leadership structure (or at least, the incumbent crowd of all hues) in addressing sustainability.

All they're capable of, is growing unsustainability.

by RickStrauss | 20th Aug 19, 9:27pm 1566293277

Am I missing something?

Should this not read "Who's fleecing whom?"

New Zealand may be in decline.

by bob cotton | 21st Aug 19, 10:26am 1566340009

At last, someone with a grasp of grammar.

by Steve1 | 20th Aug 19, 11:24pm 1566300292

In summary the heat applied to the fuel retailers has helped keep prices down and let smaller companies like Waitomo fuel expand. Who would increase their margins while the spotlight (2 inquiries ) was on them.
Remember the report was commissioned because
1) "Based on MBIE data, retail petrol margins have increased by over 18 cents per litre between 2008 and 2017"
2) since 2008, New Zealand pre-tax premium petrol prices had soared from the "bottom third of OECD countries" to become the "most expensive".
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11…

by Chris-M | 21st Aug 19, 10:01am 1566338493

Using 2017 as a base year is very misleading. Take a long view over the last 10-15 years. They at least doubled their margins before 2017

by Independent_Observer | 21st Aug 19, 11:09am 1566342560

Why don't we do the same investigation into house prices and banks?

by Boatman | 21st Aug 19, 1:41pm 1566351706

or builders merchants ? or supermarkets , or the outrageous price of a litre of MILK

by Independent_Observer | 21st Aug 19, 3:53pm 1566359602

Point being? Should we be investigating the price of milk as well - and Fonterra management pay scales then blame it on the government?

by KH | 21st Aug 19, 11:51am 1566345078

Yes there is tax DC, but it's not the point of this investigation which is valid tax or no tax. The big energy companies will be toasting that you went into this distraction.
I think the interesting thing the investigation got to is the control that the big ones have over the supply. They work together and have 90% of the supply. It's not the competition on the local corner outlet. It's the wholesale supply we have been screwed on. Most of the media can't get their head around that one.
Interesting about Gull, having the best return on capital of the lot. Even with the lowest prices. It's because they bring in their own supplies.
All those wonderful operators like McKewons and Allied here in Otago have made cheaper fuel for us, but don't be deceived. Think how much better they could do if the single main supply they depend on was not completely controlled by the majors.

by straw_man | 21st Aug 19, 12:06pm 1566345987

This has to be one of the most disingenuous arguments I have read. Semantics around the use of the word "fleecing" aside, are we seriously equating government taxation for roading infrastructure spending to the supernatural profits earned due to a lack of competition/oligopoly?

One of those actually benefits the users/payers of this good, the other only benefits those companies profits.

Are we seriously arguing that users paying higher prices due to monopolies is OK because government puts a tax on that same good (or increases said tax)? Got any more whataboutisms to go with that?

by Roger Witherspoon | 21st Aug 19, 12:57pm 1566349028

As usual, the people get what they vote for.

by NZ Citizen | 21st Aug 19, 1:31pm 1566351072

Good article David.

However, this is a political red herring from the Prime Minister.

Jacinda Adern should be focusing on sorting out the massive gang problems in this country, getting immigration numbers well down (under ~20,000 as was promised in the last election!), and China China China.

by Chris-M | 21st Aug 19, 1:34pm 1566351294

Using 2017 as a base year is very misleading. Take a long view over the last 10-15 years. They at least doubled their margins before 2017

by Boatman | 21st Aug 19, 1:40pm 1566351627

CLEARLY New Zealanders are outraged at the Government over the taxes on fuel if the tsunami of social media and plain old chattering classes commentary are anything to go by

And so they should be ............. its outrageous !

by RickStrauss | 21st Aug 19, 1:47pm 1566352071

Heaven forbid that roading development be funded by those who drive on roads! 'Tis outrageous! I've had a gutsfull! Other people should be paying for roads, not me!

by Boatman | 21st Aug 19, 2:15pm 1566353724

It would be fine is the fuel levy was actually a dedicated fund and we knew how much it had in the fund ............. but its not and the money is being used on other stuff ............ maybe even welfare payments to people too lazy to work and need the money to get a P fix ............

by powerdownkiwi | 21st Aug 19, 3:30pm 1566358255

Actually, it would be more enlightening to see how much of it was subsidising those who make money by using public infrastructure....

That would far, far outweigh the tainted insinuation above

by Carlos67 | 21st Aug 19, 4:38pm 1566362300

Wouldn't you just keep your mouth shut if you found out before hand that nearly half the petrol cost is tax instead of having a rant about us getting fleeced ? Seriously you would want to try and keep a lid on that can of worms. Forget about just the sock, isn't that her foot as well ?

by Independent_Observer | 21st Aug 19, 4:40pm 1566362443

Is this government really increasing taxes massively per our right wing 'whingers' comments?

https://tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/government-revenues

There might be a few 'holes' in this analysis - but it wouldn't appear to me that there's been a massive jump or increase in rate of taxation since this government took over - but happy to be pointed to other data that would indicate this really is the 'tax and spend' government that its being labelled as. And if that data can't be procuded - then is there a lot of fake news around Labour taxing too much?

by powerdownkiwi | 21st Aug 19, 4:58pm 1566363509

There are a couple of hucksters hereabouts, who put more effort in than you'd expect from just someone of a particular attitude.

And it's insidious and repetitive.

Maybe it's taking the place of Whaleoil - that well-balanced, insightful, researched, polite........