If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
Use the vocabulary list to check the meanings of some words before you listen.
Vocabulary
petrol – the liquid used to supply power to engines in cars
retail price – the price of something in a shop
diesel – a type of heavy oil used instead of petrol, especially in trucks and buses
91 octane petrol – one kind of petrol. Octane is a chemical substance in petrol and is used as a measure of its quality
retailer – a company which sells goods or services to the public
disruption – a situation in which something is stopped from continuing in its usual way
updates – the most recent news or information about something
announce – to officially tell people something, especially a plan or decision
panic buy – to buy in a panic, that is, buying a lot because of concerns about prices rising
stockpile – to collect and keep a large supply of something
efficiently – in a good and careful way, with no waste
brake – to make a vehicle go slower by using the brake
tyre – a thick rubber ring that fits around the wheel on a car or bike
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- Since when have petrol prices been increasing?
- How much has the retail price for petrol increased by?
- What is the average price for 91 octane petrol now?
- Why have fuel prices already gone up in NZ?
- Why did several petrol stations run out of fuel last week?
- How many weeks’ worth of fuel does New Zealand have?
- What are the four levels of the National Fuel Plan?
- What level is New Zealand currently at?
- What kind of support will the Government focus on?
- Why should people not stockpile fuel at home?
- What advice has been given to save money?
- What advice has been given to save fuel?
News story
Petrol prices have been increasing in New Zealand since the start of the war between the United States and Israel and Iran.
The retail price for petrol has risen by about 55 cents per litre and that for diesel by about 90 cents since the beginning of March. The average price for 91 octane petrol is now $3.30 per litre. The Commerce Commission has increased its monitoring of prices and stated on 19 March that “retailers do not appear to be increasing prices faster than their costs”. Some people have questioned why prices have gone up, when the fuel now in New Zealand was bought before the war began. The reason for this is that retailers need to charge the replacement cost of the fuel, that is, the amount they need to pay to buy more fuel in the future. Some days last week, several petrol stations ran out of petrol and diesel. This was because of higher demand, that is, more people filling up their cars before prices rise further. However, those petrol stations had deliveries scheduled, so they did not stay empty for long.
The Government has said that there is seven weeks’ worth of fuel currently in the country or on its way, so there is no need for immediate concern. However, there is a strong possibility that there will be disruption to future fuel supplies. The Government is therefore planning for different scenarios and will provide regular updates to the public in the next weeks. New Zealand has a National Fuel Plan, which was published in 2024. The plan has four levels of response: Minor, Moderate, Major, and Severe. The country is currently at the Minor level, where there is “minimal current impact on fuel distribution” but also the potential for moving to higher levels. The Finance Minister, Nicola Willis, has stated that the price increases are very difficult and are affecting all New Zealanders. However, she has warned that the Government cannot provide support for everyone but will focus on targeted and temporary support for low-income families. She will announce the details tomorrow.
Along with the Government, the Automobile Association (AA) has warned people not to panic buy or to stockpile fuel. It is dangerous to store large amounts of fuel at home, because of the risk of fire. Instead, the AA advises to shop around for the cheapest price available. One way to do this is with an app called Gaspy, which shows you where the cheapest fuel is in your area. Other experts suggest that one way to save fuel is to drive efficiently, for example, avoiding speeding up and then braking hard. Having the correct tyre pressure also helps to save fuel.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer
a. Since when have petrol prices been increasing?
Since the start of the war between the United States and Israel and Iran.
b. How much has the retail price for petrol increased by?
By about 55 cents per litre
c. What is the average price for 91 octane petrol now?
$3.30
d. Why have fuel prices already gone up in NZ?
Because retailers need to charge the replacement cost of the fuel
e. Why did several petrol stations run out of fuel last week?
Because of higher demand, that is, more people filling up their cars before prices rise further
f. How many weeks’ worth of fuel does New Zealand have?
Seven
g. What are the four levels of the National Fuel Plan?
Minor, Moderate, Major, and Severe
h. What level is New Zealand currently at?
Minor
i. What kind of support will the Government focus on?
Targeted and temporary support for low-income families
j. Why should people not stockpile fuel at home?
Because it is dangerous/ because of the risk of fire
k. What advice has been given to save money?
Shop around for the cheapest price available
l. What advice has been given to save fuel?
Drive efficiently – avoid speeding up and then braking hard; have the correct tyre pressure