Waitomo stirs up Wellington fuel prices

Waitomo has entered the Wellington fuel market today, with the opening of their Upper Hutt Fuel Stop.

As the region’s only low-cost operator, Waitomo’s entry brings much-needed competition and choice to the capital, where Kiwis have been paying some of New Zealand’s highest fuel prices.

As part of its national network expansion plans, the Hamilton-based fuel supplier will open a second Wellington site in Tinakori by mid-July.

In celebration, until Thursday 12pm, Waitomo has pumped prices down at the new site with Unleaded 91 at $1.899 a litre, Premium 95 at $2.029 a litre and Diesel at $1.199 a litre.

Waitomo Managing Director Jimmy Ormsby says today’s opening marks an important milestone for the 100 percent Kiwi-owned and operated business.

“We’ve sure stirred things up with our arrival. Motorists down here have been hurting at the pump for too long, and we’re stoked to put that right,” Mr Ormsby says.

“From the huge response we’ve had, you can tell what this means to Upper Hutt motorists. Not bad for a small Waikato third-generation family business to be Wellington’s petrol price disruptor.”

Located at 1066 Fergusson Drive, the unmanned 24-hour Fuel Stop will offer retail and commercial customers Unleaded 91, Premium 95, and Diesel. GoClear, a diesel exhaust fluid, is also available to diesel vehicle users.

As with all new Waitomo Fuel Stops, the pumps on site are fitted with vapour recovery technology, a system not widely used in New Zealand that sucks petrol vapour that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere back into the pump.

To mark the opening, kaumatua from Ōrongomai Marae will bless the site at 11am, followed by the official opening at 12pm, including Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy. The winner of Waitomo’s “fill up on us” competition will be the first to fuel up, and take away $1,000 in free fuel.

Guests will be welcomed on site with free coffee and hot food available.

“My grandfather would be a proud man today. More than 70 years on, we’re still what we’ve always been – Kiwis fueling Kiwis with fairer prices. That’s our everyday low Waitomo price.”

Further fuel stops are currently under construction in central Wellington (Tinakori) and New Plymouth (Otaka) and will open in July. Waitomo has also announced it’ll open a Christchurch site later this year, delivering long-awaited price competition down south.

Established in Te Kuiti in 1947 by Desmond Ormsby, the company now has more than 60 Fuel Stops in the North Island.

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