Prices At Petrol Pump Set To Get Higher

The New Zealand dollar is trading at a nearly two-year low, meaning New Zealanders can expect more pain at the petrol pump.

Falling to around 55.5 US cents to the NZ dollar, this rate has not been seen since October 2022.

The falling rate means imported goods - including fuel - will cost more, but it's good news for exporters, who will see higher returns.

AA fuel price spokesperson Terry Collins told Morning Report if people thought prices for petrol now were bad, the prices at the pump now are from oil bought over a month ago so it will only get worse.

"It's gone up $10 a litre...and those contracts were forward contracts so we're yet to see those prices come through, so we'll be seeing more prices going up."

He could see prices go up at least another cents up at the pump.

The cause is mainly geo-political, he said.

Beef and Lamb Alliance Group global sales director James McWilliam said it was positive news for exporters after two very long and challenging years for the industry.

"What this means for the industry is the red meat sector returns about nine to 10 billion (dollars) to the New Zealand economy on an annualised basis and about 90-95 percent of that is exported."

The US was one of the largest the New Zealand market traded into, he said.

Hospitality New Zealand spokesperson Sam MacKinnon said bars, cafes and restaurants rely on a strong domestic market.

The latest data from payments company, Worldline, shows hospitality sector spending fell 2.7 percent in 2024.