Some South Auckland residents have been caught out by Auckland Council's decision to introduce a fuel tax - saying it's come as a total surprise.
Repeka Samo drives from Pukekohe to Manakau for classes and said she spent up to $20 a day on fuel. Photo: RNZ/Katie Scotcher
Councillors yesterday voted to bring in an 11.5 cent-a-litre regional fuel tax from 1 July to fund transport projects.
The tax has been on the cards for some time - and mayor Phil Goff said the consequences would be "inconceivable" if it was not introduced.
Student nurse Repeka Samo drives from Pukekohe to Manukau for classes every day and spends up to $20 a day on fuel.
She had no idea soaring fuel prices were set to climb even higher next month.
"Most of us are not high-income earners so ... it affects us financially," she said.
"I'm already with one income earner and I've got three children so, it's already affecting me and that's not even [with the tax]," she said.
Louise Tawhai, who lives on the North Shore, came to Otahuhu often due to the cheaper prices. Photo: RNZ/Katie Scotcher
Louise Tawhai lives on Auckland's North Shore to be close to work, but frequently comes to Ōtāhuhu as everything is cheaper there, she said.
She was unhappy about the impending petrol price increase but said there was not much she could do about it.
"You just have to adjust to everything, with the rising costs of everything in Auckland you have to adjust one way or another.
"Otherwise you're going to end up homeless, or out of a job, finding ways of putting food on the table, getting to work," she said.
Ōtara resident Wayne Joseph. Photo: RNZ/Katie Scotcher
Ōtara resident Wayne Joseph was also unimpressed with the tax.
He worked night shifts at his local hardware store and he and his friends often carpooled to work to save money and gas, he said.
But he was worried that having to spend more money on fuel would mean he would not be able to provide for his family.
"I have two kids and a dog to feed, and a car and a phone to feed too."
Mona King counted herself lucky she did not have a long commute to her retail job every day.
The tax would hurt people on low incomes, Ms King said.
"It could stop them from going to work - well I would - all my pay check would be going on gas, I'd stop going to work to be quite honest.
"The benefit's going to go up, cos people can't get to work, and that's going to be the honest truth of it," she said.
Government legislation allowing the tax is expected to pass this month ahead of its introduction on 1 July.