Selwyn Manning and Peter Godfrey deliver Across The Ditch. This week: Petrol prices are cheaper in New Zealand but not cheap enough when compared to petrol pump prices in Australia + Rugby World Cup Law passes in the NZ Parliament making it possible for bars to remain open 24/7 which the World Cup is played in the UK – Recorded live on 27/08/15.
ITEM ONE Petrol prices in New Zealand are dropping after global oil commodity prices sank this week. Prices in Auckland fell below NZD$1.90 per litre of 91 unleaded petrol. As a comparison, the NZ Dollar is currently tracking the Aussie Dollar at around NZ$1 to Australia $0.91. Or to look at it from the other side of the equation for every Australian dollar you get around $1.098 NZ dollars. The Automobile Association has predicted the slump in global oil prices per barrel will cause prices at the petrol pump down below 1.80 per litre of 91 unleaded petrol. Already this week, it appeared a competitive war among outlets was in evidence. GULL service station outlets in Auckland led the market down to $1.86 per litre. Fairfax reported Thursday that three Z service stations were offering 91 octane for $1.829. Those stations were located on the North Shore of Auckland and one outlet in South Auckland. Most outlets played the market conservatively with prices between $1.91 to $1.99. ITEM TWO As you have probably realised over the past few weeks, Rugby is a religion in New Zealand. So much so, the politicians have forced legislation through Parliament so that pubs and bars can stay open all night during the Rugby World Cup tournament. The World Cup tournament will be contested in England and kicks off on September 18. The new law is designed to ensure Rugby fans and punters will be able to drink and watch the Rugby World Cup games, irrespective of what time the games will be screened. The New Zealand Herald’s political editor Audrey Young reports there will be some restrictions however…• There must be no outdoor speakers; no discarding of empty bottles and no use of outdoor courtyard areas. • The police have to be given seven days’ notice. • Premises which have had their licenses varied or suspended in the previous 12 months will not be able to extend their hours to show Rugby World Cup games.
Excluding those three points, the pubs and bars throughout the land will be the winner on the day. That outcome caused Green Party MP Kevin Hague some discomfort, especially as Parliament in his view was forcing a liberal booze law on local councils. He argued that councils not parliament ought to decide whether bars and pubs could stay open. The Greens also were against pubs and bars being able to remain open when they were located near schools and kindergartens. At the end of the day, it looks like politicians have found a remedy for hangovers, at least in delaying the inevitable.Across The Ditch broadcasts live on FiveAA.com.au and webcasts on EveningReport.nz, LiveNews.co.nz and ForeignAffairs.co.nz.
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