The price of fuel around New Zealand may still be causing Kiwis financial pain but in Auckland it will be dropping slightly from tomorrow, July 1.
The coalition Government’s axing of the Auckland regional fuel tax comes into effect then and will result in an 11.5 cents per litre drop in the cost of fuel.
Prime Minister and Botany MP Christopher Luxon joined Transport Minister and Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown at a Z fuel station in Pakuranga to talk about the fuel tax being axed as well as other policies that come into force tomorrow and are intended to ease the cost-of-living crisis.
“Abolishing the Auckland regional fuel tax will make motorists 11.5 cents per litre better off, and in difficult financial times, that is a big saving,” Luxon says.
“We’re determined to reduce the cost of living pressures for hardworking New Zealanders and this, as well as other July 1 changes, will go some way to easing that pressure on them.
“Despite abolishing the Auckland regional fuel tax, this Government is delivering a record investment in transport, including in Auckland.
“Nearly $4 billion has been set aside to fix and prevent potholes on the state highway and local road network over the next three years, including $478 million set aside for local road pothole prevention in Auckland, a 74 per cent increase over the previous three-year period.
“And funding for public transport services nationally is also set to rise by 41 per cent compared to the previous three years.”
Luxon says the Government’s new ‘FamilyBoost’ reimbursement also comes into force tomorrow.
“This will be a big help for families with young children, who can claim back up to 25 per cent of their early childhood education fees, to a maximum fortnightly amount of $150.
“Paid parental leave also increases from tomorrow, with the maximum weekly rate increasing from $712.17 to $754.87.
“This will help families get the support they need in the early and most important stages of a child’s life.
“The sorry state of the economy that my Government inherited is a well-told story, however I have always been clear the savings required to get our country back on track will not be at the expense of those Kiwis doing it tough.
“Getting back to fiscal health will be a long journey and the economic situation is challenging but there are signs of light on the horizon.
“Treasury’s Budget forecasts show an improving outlook, with inflation coming under control, interest rates dropping and growth recovering.
“Inflation is tracking in the right direction with food prices experiencing the smallest increase since September 2018.
“We’ll continue to rebuild the economy so workers, businesses and families can get ahead once more.
“Tomorrow’s cost of living measures are helping New Zealanders through difficult times.”
