Gull has confirmed a launch date for its first South Island site, as well as some detail around their roll out plans for the rest of the South Island, with a second site to open in Gore in October.

Gull New Zealand general manager David Bodger said South Island motorists have been requesting that the ‘Gull Effect‘ moves south for many years.

“Now we will start with our first two sites below the 45th parallel and then move north through the rest of the Mainland. We are delighted that we will open Maheno on 2 October, shortly followed by Gore,” said Bodger.

“New tanks and a new forecourt have taken us longer than intended to install at Maheno, with some unexpected geotechnical issues and a need to relay the complete forecourt to meet modern safety and environmental standards.

“However, with the delays we have been successful in gaining a second existing service station on a prime site, again on State Highway 1 at the Southern entrance to Gore. This is a large modern site with good tankage and a forecourt. We have some cosmetic changes to make and are very confident that it will soon follow Maheno in opening. We are aiming for early to mid-October.”

Bodger said Gull had also purchased land for one other site and entered into agreements to lease and develop a further three sites, with several other sites under discussion and negotiation in the Mainland.

“This is a good start and we are very pleased to be bringing much-needed competition to the South Island. We noted earlier this year that the ‘Gull Effect‘ may not reach far beyond Maheno initially, so it‘s really gratifying to confirm we have other concrete progress that will increase competition to the benefit of the Southern motorist,” said Bodger.

The ‘Gull Effect‘ is a term coined by the AA after observing how opposition sites lower their fuel prices to match when a Gull site opens in the town or neighbourhood. With independent surveys noting South Island Fuel prices of 10 to 20 cents per litre above a North island prices for several years, this will be a welcome effect for southern motorists.