South Island family-owned fuel retailer NPD has announced it is expanding into the North Island, with its first sites, in Porirua and in New Plymouth, to be open by the end of the year. 

The company has committed to six high-profile sites, five of which are under contract, and include Hamilton, Porirua, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, and two in Auckland. Chief executive Barry Sheridan says NPD is actively searching for further potential sites that will bring value to both its network and the surrounding communities.

“Our North Island sites will be premium self serve sites – this site model allows NPD to offer cheaper fuel that will make a positive difference in the weekly budgets of families,” said Sheridan.

He added that NPD believes North Island fuel prices are currently too high and have been for some time. “We aim to bring more competitive fuel pricing to the North Island as we have in the South Island. Our data analysis clearly shows that North Island motorists are paying too much for their fuel – we see this as an opportunity to bring greater levels of competition and significantly lower pump prices for motorists.

 “Even with the Auckland regional fuel tax removed, the price of unleaded 91 last week was on average approximately 15c a litre cheaper in Christchurch than in Auckland. On other recent occasions, the differential has been as high as 30c a litre. In Porirua last week, average prices were approximately 32c a litre more than in Christchurch,” Sheridan said.

NPD envisages its expansion into the North Island will contribute to more evenly aligned pump pricing, with greater cash savings, throughout New Zealand.

Over the past few years, NPD has systematically expanded its network throughout the South Island in main centres and smaller communities. It now has 70 sites, with a further 16 to be completed in the South Island over the next 12 months.