Unlike Australia, where the Albanese government is declining to extend the excise cut on fuel, New Zealand has authorised that its excise tax, road user charges and public transport fares be left in place for another five months.
Petrol prices in New Zealand, like elsewhere, have risen sharply since Russia’s attack on Ukraine started in February, contributing to significant inflation.
Food prices rose 1.2 per cent in June, while they rose 6.6 per cent from the same month last year.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the government was taking a range of actions to ease cost of living pressure on families.
“We want Kiwis to have some certainty over the coming months in the face of volatile prices at the pump,” Mr Robertson said in a statement.
The government in March cut the fuel excise tax by 25 cents a litre and road user charges – a charge levied on diesel vehicle users – by as much for three months.
The temporary measure was extended again in May until mid-August.
Authorities flagged the changes will reduce the cost of filling up a 40-litre tank of petrol by more than $NZ11 ($A10) and for a 60-litre tank by more than NZ$17 ($A15).
Inflation-fighting measure
The Treasury estimates the combined impact of policy will reduce headline inflation by 0.5 percentage points in the June quarter, Mr Robertson said.
But he warned inflation will likely “stay for some time at levels higher than we have seen in recent years” even as economists forecast it would peak in the June quarter.
On Wednesday, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) delivered its sixth straight interest rate rise and signalled it remained comfortable with its planned aggressive tightening path to restrain runaway inflation.
RBNZ has forecast inflation peaking at 7.0 per cent in the second quarter of 2022, well above its target of 1-3 per cent.
-AAP
TL;DR
New Zealand has extended its fuel excise tax cuts, road user charges, and public transport fare reductions until the end of January 2023 to help mitigate rising living costs. This decision comes amid significant inflation pressures, particularly from rising petrol and food prices.
- The government cut the fuel excise tax by 25 cents per litre in March, which was extended in May.
- Petrol prices have surged due to global events, contributing to inflation, with food prices rising 1.2% in June.
- Finance Minister Grant Robertson emphasized the need for certainty for families facing volatile prices.
New Zealand extended the gas excise cuts to provide relief from rising petrol prices and to ease cost of living pressures on families amidst significant inflation. Finance Minister Grant Robertson emphasized the need for certainty for Kiwis facing volatile prices at the pump.
The excise cuts are expected to reduce the cost of filling a 40-litre tank of petrol by more than NZ$11 and a 60-litre tank by more than NZ$17, making fuel more affordable for consumers during this period.
Rising petrol prices in New Zealand have been significantly influenced by global events, particularly Russia's attack on Ukraine, which has contributed to inflation across various sectors, including food and fuel.
In addition to extending the gas excise cuts, the New Zealand government is implementing a range of actions aimed at easing cost of living pressures, as indicated by Finance Minister Grant Robertson.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has forecast inflation to peak at 7.0 percent in the second quarter of 2022, which is significantly above its target range of 1-3 percent, indicating ongoing economic challenges ahead.