Fuel prices photographed at two East Auckland service stations on Thursday evening showed how much the final price can differ within a short drive, even when the same rewards programme is accepted.
Photos taken around 5 pm on 28 May 2026 show 91 petrol at BP Connect priced at 325.9 cents per litre, with an Everyday Rewards price of 319.9 cents per litre. A nearby GAS station on Cascades Road showed 91 petrol at 319.9 cents per litre, with an Everyday Rewards price of 299.9 cents per litre.
The two stations are about 1.5 kilometres apart.
A receipt from GAS Cascades Road recorded a purchase of 21.882 litres of 91 Regular at $3.199 per litre. The transaction showed a 14 cents per litre bonus discount and a further 6 cents per litre Everyday Rewards discount. The total paid was $65.63, bringing the effective price down to about $2.999 per litre.
That means a driver buying 91 petrol with Everyday Rewards could have paid about 20 cents per litre less at GAS than the discounted price shown at BP Connect at the time the photos were taken. On a 50-litre fill, that difference is about $10.
The comparison does not show one brand as cheaper across all fuel types. The same photos showed BP Connect was slightly cheaper for 95 and diesel. BP displayed 95 at 347.9 cents per litre and diesel at 327.9 cents per litre. GAS displayed 95 at 348.9 cents per litre and diesel at 329.9 cents per litre.
The difference was strongest for 91 petrol, especially once the extra GAS bonus discount was applied.
Both stations displayed Everyday Rewards pricing, meaning motorists using the same rewards card could still face different final prices depending on the station and the extra discount being offered at the time.
The photos were taken within minutes of each other, and the GAS receipt recorded the purchase time at 5.16 pm. Image metadata also supported the timing of the photos, although the metadata did not show GPS coordinates.
Fuel prices can change quickly, and this comparison is only a snapshot from one evening. But it shows why motorists may need to check the actual displayed price for the fuel they use, rather than assuming one station or one rewards card gives the best deal across the board.
For drivers using 91 petrol, the difference on Thursday evening was clear. The same rewards programme was available at both stations, but the final discounted price displayed at GAS Cascades Road was lower.
