Gull drops petrol by three cents

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Gull has dropped its fuel prices by three cents a litre, citing the Christmas spirit as the reason for the fall.

Retail manager Graeme Stirk said from 4pm today, the price of petrol and diesel would drop by three cents per litre - prices that would remain in effect until at least December 29.

The price drop takes Gull's 91 octane to $1.619, its 98 octane to $1.619 and diesel to $1.039.

Mr Stirk said the reduction was "Gull's way of saying thank you" to customers over the past year.

Other major outlets including Caltex and Mobil said they were monitoring the market but had no plans to make any changes when spoken to earlier today.

A number of factors influence the price of petrol including the New Zealand dollar, overseas markets and the price of crude oil.

Meanwhile as the country's road swell, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is encouraging drivers to save fuel.

Products Manager Terry Collins said driving efficiently wasn't "rocket science". Smooth driving, including gentle breaking, watching speed and limiting the use of air conditioning, all helped reduce fuel consumption.  

"And it's not just your fuel bills that benefit from it," he said.
 
"These are things anyone can do, regardless of the car you drive. And there's a huge environmental benefit - if every New Zealand motorist cut 10 percent off their fuel bill with efficient driving practices, it would be like taking 250,000 cars off our roads."
 
How to save fuel:

• Drive smoothly. Accelerate and brake gently and smoothly, including in and out of corners. Look ahead so you can adjust your speed early.
• Watch your speed. Travelling at 100 km/h instead of 110 km/h can cut around 10percent off your fuel bill.
• Use your air-con wisely - open your windows instead.
• Care for your car. A well-maintained car can use up to 10 percent less fuel. Check your tyre pressure monthly, service your car regularly, and make sure your wheels are properly aligned.
• Lighten and streamline the load. Unnecessary load or drag can add up to 5 percent to your fuel bills.

- © Fairfax NZ News