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| Meta Title | Rising fuel prices squeeze ride-sharing drivers | RNZ News |
| Meta Description | Soaring fuel prices are forcing some drivers that provide ride-sharing services to shell out as much as $100 extra on petrol each week just to stay on the road. |
| Meta Canonical | null |
| Boilerpipe Text | Soaring fuel prices are forcing some drivers that provide ride-sharing services to shell out as much as $100 extra on petrol each week just to stay on the road.
While companies operating in the fishing, farming and freight sectors are expected to
bear the brunt of rising diesel prices
, those who provide taxi and car-riding options are similarly impacted.
And with the ongoing Middle East conflict expected to rattle global energy markets, petrol prices in New Zealand look likely to rise further alongside the cost of oil.
Data from fuel price monitoring app Gaspy showed that the average price of 91 on Tuesday reached $3.11 a litre in Auckland and just under $3.10 nationwide.
The average price of 95 rose to $3.27 in Auckland and $3.26 across the country.
Kelly Eckhold, chief economist at Westpac, said oil prices could reach US$200 a barrel if the Middle East crisis continued, sending retail petrol prices
above $4 a litre
.
The skyrocketing prices are weighing heavily on ride-sharing drivers, whose earnings depend on long hours and steady demand from travellers, adding to their financial and emotional strain.
Rajat Khera says rising petrol prices are cutting into his earnings.
Photo:
RNZ / Yiting Lin
Rajat Khera, who has been an Uber driver for about five years, said he worked eight to 10 hours a day, five or six days a week.
Khera said the rise in petrol prices had taken a noticeable chunk out of his earnings.
"It used to be $2 [a litre] and it has already gone up by $1 a litre," he said. "It takes [an] extra 100 to 150 bucks from the pocket now."
Khera said filling his 50-litre tank used to cost about $100.
Filling up the tank now costs around $130.
Filling up three to four times a week had added roughly $150 to his weekly fuel bill, he said.
Khera said he used to earn $200 to $250 a day, and as much as $350 to $400 on days when he drove more than 10 hours.
He said he now took home much less after fuel and expenses had been paid for.
"It's really hard at the moment," he said.
"We have to work something out. We have to see what can change. We're waiting for the government to do something on it."
Noneet Lal says rising petrol prices are making it harder for him to make a living.
Photo:
RNZ / Yiting Lin
Noneet Lal faced similar strain.
A ride-sharing driver with about 10 years of experience, Lal said he relied heavily on customers for a living wage.
Lal said although petrol prices had risen, customer fares had not.
After paying Uber's service fee and covering other costs, including tax and GST, he said it had become increasingly difficult to make a living.
"There's basically hardly anything left," he said.
"Now you are going to be struggling to pay your bills, and that's going to force us to be off the road or be more on the road."
"It's a very stressful situation," he said.
He called on ride-sharing platforms to increase fares to relieve the financial pressure on drivers.
Richard Kumar, who began driving for Uber last year, said it cost an extra $40 more to fill his tank these days.
Kumar said the surge in petrol prices was affecting all drivers, including those with hybrid vehicles.
"Before I used to pay about $80 to $90 to fill up," he said. "Now once the petrol prices have gone up, it's costing us roughly $125.
"It's hitting your pocket. You're not making the same amount of money what you're used to."
Richard Kumar says rising petrol prices are affecting all drivers, including those with hybrid vehicles.
Photo:
RNZ / Yiting Lin
Kumar was also worried higher fuel prices could prompt more people to work from home, adding another strain for ride-sharing drivers.
"If people start working from home a few days, obviously there will be less people in the city," he said.
"Even though Auckland's city [centre] is so busy, there will be less people in city, there will be less people travelling in taxis or ride-shares."
Kumar said he had been avoiding peak-hour driving to avoid sitting in heavy traffic and using more fuel.
He said he believed the fuel crisis would be temporary, and hoped conditions would normalise within three to four weeks.
Gaspy director Mike Newton said oil prices remained volatile, with petrol prices potentially climbing further.
"We probably would see pump prices of $4 not just in a few outlying places," he said. "Like Great Barrier Island ... it's already $4 because of how remote it is.
"We could be seeing that across the entire country - $4 at the pump - which would be really tough for people," he said.
Newton said he could not predict how long the spike in petrol prices would last, but said New Zealand faced similar pressure four years ago after Russia invaded Ukraine, when it took about four months for prices to peak.
Richard Kumar avoids driving at peak times of the day to avoid sitting in traffic.
Photo:
RNZ / Yiting Lin
RNZ approached several ride-sharing platforms for comment.
An Uber spokesperson said the company recognised that recent increases in fuel prices were having an effect across a range of industries, including drivers who use the Uber app to earn income.
The spokesperson said Uber was actively monitoring conditions and regularly reviewed ways to support drivers as circumstances changed, including through discounts on fuel as well as other savings aimed at reducing expenses.
A spokesperson for Bolt said the company was also closely monitoring the impact of rising fuel prices.
"We are currently assessing our pricing and driver earnings in New Zealand," the spokesperson said. "We are preparing to introduce targeted measures to help drivers manage the short-term cost pressures."
The spokesperson said the company's priority was to maintain a balance between driver costs and rider pricing, ensuring the platform remained fair and sustainable for all parties.
Photo:
RNZ / Yiting Lin
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's
fuel stock data
showed that, as of 15 March, New Zealand had around 49 days cover of petrol, diesel and jet fuel.
MBIE said fuel supply into New Zealand remained stable, with onshore and incoming stocks at healthy levels.
It said there was no need for New Zealanders to change their fuel-buying habits.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the government was carefully monitoring fuel stock levels and had
shut down
suggestions of temporarily cutting the fuel excise tax, partly because it would encourage people to use more petrol.
She said she was closely looking at the cost of living impacts the rise in fuel prices had on lower-income working New Zealanders. |
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9:54 am today
# Rising fuel prices squeeze ride-sharing drivers
9:54 19/3/2026
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[Duoya Lu](https://www.rnz.co.nz/authors/duoya-lu), Journalist
[Duoya.Lu@rnz.co.nz](mailto:Duoya.Lu@rnz.co.nz?subject=Rising%20fuel%20prices%20squeeze%20ride-sharing%20drivers)
Soaring fuel prices are forcing some drivers that provide ride-sharing services to shell out as much as \$100 extra on petrol each week just to stay on the road.
While companies operating in the fishing, farming and freight sectors are expected to [bear the brunt of rising diesel prices](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/589716/fuel-crisis-which-foods-will-rise-in-price-fastest-and-when), those who provide taxi and car-riding options are similarly impacted.
And with the ongoing Middle East conflict expected to rattle global energy markets, petrol prices in New Zealand look likely to rise further alongside the cost of oil.
Data from fuel price monitoring app Gaspy showed that the average price of 91 on Tuesday reached \$3.11 a litre in Auckland and just under \$3.10 nationwide.
The average price of 95 rose to \$3.27 in Auckland and \$3.26 across the country.
Kelly Eckhold, chief economist at Westpac, said oil prices could reach US\$200 a barrel if the Middle East crisis continued, sending retail petrol prices [above \$4 a litre](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/589761/petrol-price-could-hit-4-economists-warn).
The skyrocketing prices are weighing heavily on ride-sharing drivers, whose earnings depend on long hours and steady demand from travellers, adding to their financial and emotional strain.
Rajat Khera says rising petrol prices are cutting into his earnings. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
Rajat Khera, who has been an Uber driver for about five years, said he worked eight to 10 hours a day, five or six days a week.
Khera said the rise in petrol prices had taken a noticeable chunk out of his earnings.
"It used to be \$2 \[a litre\] and it has already gone up by \$1 a litre," he said. "It takes \[an\] extra 100 to 150 bucks from the pocket now."
Khera said filling his 50-litre tank used to cost about \$100.
Filling up the tank now costs around \$130.
Filling up three to four times a week had added roughly \$150 to his weekly fuel bill, he said.
Khera said he used to earn \$200 to \$250 a day, and as much as \$350 to \$400 on days when he drove more than 10 hours.
He said he now took home much less after fuel and expenses had been paid for.
"It's really hard at the moment," he said.
"We have to work something out. We have to see what can change. We're waiting for the government to do something on it."
Noneet Lal says rising petrol prices are making it harder for him to make a living. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
Noneet Lal faced similar strain.
A ride-sharing driver with about 10 years of experience, Lal said he relied heavily on customers for a living wage.
Lal said although petrol prices had risen, customer fares had not.
After paying Uber's service fee and covering other costs, including tax and GST, he said it had become increasingly difficult to make a living.
"There's basically hardly anything left," he said.
"Now you are going to be struggling to pay your bills, and that's going to force us to be off the road or be more on the road."
"It's a very stressful situation," he said.
He called on ride-sharing platforms to increase fares to relieve the financial pressure on drivers.
Richard Kumar, who began driving for Uber last year, said it cost an extra \$40 more to fill his tank these days.
Kumar said the surge in petrol prices was affecting all drivers, including those with hybrid vehicles.
"Before I used to pay about \$80 to \$90 to fill up," he said. "Now once the petrol prices have gone up, it's costing us roughly \$125.
"It's hitting your pocket. You're not making the same amount of money what you're used to."
Richard Kumar says rising petrol prices are affecting all drivers, including those with hybrid vehicles. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
Kumar was also worried higher fuel prices could prompt more people to work from home, adding another strain for ride-sharing drivers.
"If people start working from home a few days, obviously there will be less people in the city," he said.
"Even though Auckland's city \[centre\] is so busy, there will be less people in city, there will be less people travelling in taxis or ride-shares."
Kumar said he had been avoiding peak-hour driving to avoid sitting in heavy traffic and using more fuel.
He said he believed the fuel crisis would be temporary, and hoped conditions would normalise within three to four weeks.
Gaspy director Mike Newton said oil prices remained volatile, with petrol prices potentially climbing further.
"We probably would see pump prices of \$4 not just in a few outlying places," he said. "Like Great Barrier Island ... it's already \$4 because of how remote it is.
"We could be seeing that across the entire country - \$4 at the pump - which would be really tough for people," he said.
Newton said he could not predict how long the spike in petrol prices would last, but said New Zealand faced similar pressure four years ago after Russia invaded Ukraine, when it took about four months for prices to peak.
Richard Kumar avoids driving at peak times of the day to avoid sitting in traffic. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
RNZ approached several ride-sharing platforms for comment.
An Uber spokesperson said the company recognised that recent increases in fuel prices were having an effect across a range of industries, including drivers who use the Uber app to earn income.
The spokesperson said Uber was actively monitoring conditions and regularly reviewed ways to support drivers as circumstances changed, including through discounts on fuel as well as other savings aimed at reducing expenses.
A spokesperson for Bolt said the company was also closely monitoring the impact of rising fuel prices.
"We are currently assessing our pricing and driver earnings in New Zealand," the spokesperson said. "We are preparing to introduce targeted measures to help drivers manage the short-term cost pressures."
The spokesperson said the company's priority was to maintain a balance between driver costs and rider pricing, ensuring the platform remained fair and sustainable for all parties.
Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's [fuel stock data](https://www.mbie.govt.nz/about/news/fuel-stocks-update) showed that, as of 15 March, New Zealand had around 49 days cover of petrol, diesel and jet fuel.
MBIE said fuel supply into New Zealand remained stable, with onshore and incoming stocks at healthy levels.
It said there was no need for New Zealanders to change their fuel-buying habits.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the government was carefully monitoring fuel stock levels and had [shut down](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/589684/average-91-petrol-price-surges-past-3-as-willis-slams-ev-subsidies) suggestions of temporarily cutting the fuel excise tax, partly because it would encourage people to use more petrol.
She said she was closely looking at the cost of living impacts the rise in fuel prices had on lower-income working New Zealanders.
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[](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/chinese/590027/rising-fuel-prices-squeeze-ride-sharing-drivers) |
| Readable Markdown | Soaring fuel prices are forcing some drivers that provide ride-sharing services to shell out as much as \$100 extra on petrol each week just to stay on the road.
While companies operating in the fishing, farming and freight sectors are expected to [bear the brunt of rising diesel prices](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/589716/fuel-crisis-which-foods-will-rise-in-price-fastest-and-when), those who provide taxi and car-riding options are similarly impacted.
And with the ongoing Middle East conflict expected to rattle global energy markets, petrol prices in New Zealand look likely to rise further alongside the cost of oil.
Data from fuel price monitoring app Gaspy showed that the average price of 91 on Tuesday reached \$3.11 a litre in Auckland and just under \$3.10 nationwide.
The average price of 95 rose to \$3.27 in Auckland and \$3.26 across the country.
Kelly Eckhold, chief economist at Westpac, said oil prices could reach US\$200 a barrel if the Middle East crisis continued, sending retail petrol prices [above \$4 a litre](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/589761/petrol-price-could-hit-4-economists-warn).
The skyrocketing prices are weighing heavily on ride-sharing drivers, whose earnings depend on long hours and steady demand from travellers, adding to their financial and emotional strain.
Rajat Khera says rising petrol prices are cutting into his earnings. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
Rajat Khera, who has been an Uber driver for about five years, said he worked eight to 10 hours a day, five or six days a week.
Khera said the rise in petrol prices had taken a noticeable chunk out of his earnings.
"It used to be \$2 \[a litre\] and it has already gone up by \$1 a litre," he said. "It takes \[an\] extra 100 to 150 bucks from the pocket now."
Khera said filling his 50-litre tank used to cost about \$100.
Filling up the tank now costs around \$130.
Filling up three to four times a week had added roughly \$150 to his weekly fuel bill, he said.
Khera said he used to earn \$200 to \$250 a day, and as much as \$350 to \$400 on days when he drove more than 10 hours.
He said he now took home much less after fuel and expenses had been paid for.
"It's really hard at the moment," he said.
"We have to work something out. We have to see what can change. We're waiting for the government to do something on it."
Noneet Lal says rising petrol prices are making it harder for him to make a living. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
Noneet Lal faced similar strain.
A ride-sharing driver with about 10 years of experience, Lal said he relied heavily on customers for a living wage.
Lal said although petrol prices had risen, customer fares had not.
After paying Uber's service fee and covering other costs, including tax and GST, he said it had become increasingly difficult to make a living.
"There's basically hardly anything left," he said.
"Now you are going to be struggling to pay your bills, and that's going to force us to be off the road or be more on the road."
"It's a very stressful situation," he said.
He called on ride-sharing platforms to increase fares to relieve the financial pressure on drivers.
Richard Kumar, who began driving for Uber last year, said it cost an extra \$40 more to fill his tank these days.
Kumar said the surge in petrol prices was affecting all drivers, including those with hybrid vehicles.
"Before I used to pay about \$80 to \$90 to fill up," he said. "Now once the petrol prices have gone up, it's costing us roughly \$125.
"It's hitting your pocket. You're not making the same amount of money what you're used to."
Richard Kumar says rising petrol prices are affecting all drivers, including those with hybrid vehicles. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
Kumar was also worried higher fuel prices could prompt more people to work from home, adding another strain for ride-sharing drivers.
"If people start working from home a few days, obviously there will be less people in the city," he said.
"Even though Auckland's city \[centre\] is so busy, there will be less people in city, there will be less people travelling in taxis or ride-shares."
Kumar said he had been avoiding peak-hour driving to avoid sitting in heavy traffic and using more fuel.
He said he believed the fuel crisis would be temporary, and hoped conditions would normalise within three to four weeks.
Gaspy director Mike Newton said oil prices remained volatile, with petrol prices potentially climbing further.
"We probably would see pump prices of \$4 not just in a few outlying places," he said. "Like Great Barrier Island ... it's already \$4 because of how remote it is.
"We could be seeing that across the entire country - \$4 at the pump - which would be really tough for people," he said.
Newton said he could not predict how long the spike in petrol prices would last, but said New Zealand faced similar pressure four years ago after Russia invaded Ukraine, when it took about four months for prices to peak.
Richard Kumar avoids driving at peak times of the day to avoid sitting in traffic. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
RNZ approached several ride-sharing platforms for comment.
An Uber spokesperson said the company recognised that recent increases in fuel prices were having an effect across a range of industries, including drivers who use the Uber app to earn income.
The spokesperson said Uber was actively monitoring conditions and regularly reviewed ways to support drivers as circumstances changed, including through discounts on fuel as well as other savings aimed at reducing expenses.
A spokesperson for Bolt said the company was also closely monitoring the impact of rising fuel prices.
"We are currently assessing our pricing and driver earnings in New Zealand," the spokesperson said. "We are preparing to introduce targeted measures to help drivers manage the short-term cost pressures."
The spokesperson said the company's priority was to maintain a balance between driver costs and rider pricing, ensuring the platform remained fair and sustainable for all parties.
Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's [fuel stock data](https://www.mbie.govt.nz/about/news/fuel-stocks-update) showed that, as of 15 March, New Zealand had around 49 days cover of petrol, diesel and jet fuel.
MBIE said fuel supply into New Zealand remained stable, with onshore and incoming stocks at healthy levels.
It said there was no need for New Zealanders to change their fuel-buying habits.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the government was carefully monitoring fuel stock levels and had [shut down](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/589684/average-91-petrol-price-surges-past-3-as-willis-slams-ev-subsidies) suggestions of temporarily cutting the fuel excise tax, partly because it would encourage people to use more petrol.
She said she was closely looking at the cost of living impacts the rise in fuel prices had on lower-income working New Zealanders. |
| Shard | 89 (laksa) |
| Root Hash | 5505609383039508489 |
| Unparsed URL | nz,co,rnz!www,/news/chinese/590027/rising-fuel-prices-squeeze-ride-sharing-drivers s443 |