Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: The National Party needs to rethink its plan for this election

We need to talk about inflation, because inflation is making me pretty sure now that the National Party needs to rethink its plan for this election.

We’ve just had the food inflation data out today. No surprise - food has gone up in price again in the year to February, up 4.5 percent.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: It wasn't a mistake to cancel the EV subsidy

The Government is copping heat today for cancelling the EV subsidy a couple of years ago. Critics now say it looks like a mistake, because oil prices are rising and, as a result, petrol prices are rising too.

They argue that, of course, we’d all be better off in electric vehicles - which we supposedly would have been if the Government hadn’t cancelled the subsidy at the end of 2023.

Ryan Bridge: The oil price danger zone for inflation

If this is still going on in two or three weeks, lots of countries, including ours, will start to feel the pinch.

Brent Crude Futures topped out at $85 a barrel overnight, the highest price since 2024.

JP Morgan says it could hit, worst-case, $120.

David Hargreaves: December quarter inflation figures....

Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes show moderate price pressures over December, indicating few likely nasty surprises in next week's December quarter inflation figures

Food prices edged up 0.1% in December, following a 0.1% drop in November, according to Stats NZ.

Mike Hosking: Petrol subsidy saga a lesson in simple economics and politics

The trouble the Government have got themselves into with the petrol subsidy is that although we love it, we hate it.

Are we grateful? No, we aren't. Is petrol too high? Yes it is. Is the grocery bill too high? Yes it is. Is the cost of living too high? Yes it is.

So we'll take it, but we won't thank you for it. But if you take it away, just wait for the moaning.

Point of Order: How pain at the pump is exacerbated by the govt’s imposts on petrol prices

New Zealanders are suffering a fresh bout of “pump pain”, as the price of petrol surges past the $3 mark. It has climbed 40c in the last four weeks.

The pump pain (as the NZ Herald calls it) brings a glow to climate change warriors, but not to Kiwis who use their cars to get to and from work every day. What makes that pain worse is the prospect that it won’t be eased any time soon.

International crude oil prices have risen steeply because of Russia’s war on the Ukraine, and are now above $NZ150 a barrel. The price of Brent crude jumped from $153 a barrel last Wednesday to $168 on Thursday.

For the motorist, the pain at the pump is compounded by the knowledge that more than half the cost, 52%, is creamed off by the government, supposedly for roading improvements.

Owen Jennings: The Price to be Paid

The service station down the road in Auckland has 91 priced over $2.65 per litre for the first time.  It was only a few months ago it was under $2.00. 

Prime Minister Ardern said we are being “fleeced”.  More like we are being “skinned”, wool and all.  It seems to slip her mind that half the “fleecing” is being done by her government.  They are grabbing $1.45 of that $2.65.  Having ratcheted up spending the government now needs all the revenue they can get their hands on. Having captured a moment’s limelight for making the claim she has moved on, yet again to another publicity podium, unable to deliver any outcome of substance.

Our electricity prices are also escalating. 

Frank Newman: Another day. Another inquiry.

Last week the Prime Minister talked tough about petrol prices. She quite earnestly said, "I am hugely concerned at the level of price that consumers are currently paying at the pump for fuel" and that motorists were being "fleeced" at the pump.

The bottom line is that the Government intends to rush through changes to the Commerce Act to allow the competition watchdog to investigate the margins on fuel. The findings will be reported back to the government next year and the PM has assured motorists that she will "prioritise a response to it".

I don't disagree that motorists are being "fleeced", but it’s not by service stations. The PM's tough talk comes just days after central government imposed a new excise tax adding another 4 cents onto the price of petrol.

NZCPR Weekly: De-Industrialising Our Economy

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

This week we look into factors influencing the rising price of petrol – including the Government’s climate change agenda, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Bryan Leyland explains how New Zealand will face blackout if the Government closes down the Huntly coal and gas fired power station, and our poll asks whether you think Labour should put a halt on its plans to add more excise taxes onto the price of petrol.

*To read the newsletter click HERE.
*To register for the NZCPR Weekly mailing list, click HERE.