RNZ, Wellington, May 3, 2018
Energy minister Megan Woods says that she remains convinced the petrol market is not working for motorists, after meeting with BP executives.
Ms Woods called the company to a meeting after a leaked internal email revealed that BP was losing sales in Otaki, north of Wellington, where prices were higher than in nearby towns.
But rather than make fuel in Otaki cheaper, it proposed hiking prices in other towns.
It hoped rival companies would follow its lead.
Cynical behaviour
Following the meeting this evening, Ms Woods said the meeting was constructive but she remained convinced that the petrol market was not working for motorists.
“I think we have seen an example of some pretty cynical behaviour, I do not think that this is isolated. I did tell BP at the end of the meeting that I still was not convinced that New Zealanders were getting a fair deal. We need to have a certainty that people are paying a fair price when they fill up their car,” Ms Woods said.
BP boss explains
On her way into the meeting, BP New Zealand Managing Director Debi Boffa argued that the Company had reduced its discounting rather than hike prices.
“The context around that email was that we were operating in a heavily, heavily discounted market and we were working to reduce that level of discounting for our business model.”
BP operated in a highly competitive environment and its sites in Kapati and Horowhenua were operating at an unsustainable level, she said.
“The action that we took at that time was to reduce the level of discounting across the Horowhenua and Kapati area and get us closer to that sustainable level of return. It was never our intention and we never went over that level at the expense of the New Zealand consumer,” Ms Boffa said.
Asked if Ms Woods’ description of BP’s behaviour as “cynical” was fair – Ms Boffa said, “No.”
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Photo Caption:
BP New Zealand Managing Director Debi Boffa speaking to reporters at Parliament Buildings in Wellington this afternoon
