Five new Waitomo Petroleum fuel stops will open before Christmas, in Paihia, Epsom, Te Rapa, Te Aroha and Putaruru, bringing the company‘s total network of fuel stops, diesel stops and service stations to 70 in the North Island.

Four of the new fuel stops are former Z Energy or Challenge sites, and have been sold to Waitomo following a Commerce Commission ruling to ensure genuine competition continues to exist within the North Island fuel market.

Waitomo Petroleum managing director Jimmy Ormsby said the company had provided fuel cards for trucking firms and company vehicles, and delivered petrol and diesel on-site to commercial clients, farmers and boaties for almost 70 years. Waitomo has steadily grown its network in recent years, but adding five new fuel stops at once is a major development.

“We‘ve been around a long time but what sets us apart from the global corporates is we‘re easy to deal with, offer very competitive pricing and we do a great job,” said Ormsby.

“We‘ve developed an easy-to- use fuel app to help motorists find their nearest Waitomo fuel stop. And setting up fuel accounts for businesses or ordering a bulk fuel delivery to farms or vessels is a very simple, straightforward process.

“By adding these new fuel stops and expanding our existing network, we can now make life even easier for our business and retail customers as there‘s always somewhere close by to fuel up.”

Ormsby is the third generation of his family to run Waitomo Petroleum and is excited about entering new markets such as Northland.

“Until now we‘ve only had one truck stop in Te Hana, north of Wellsford. It‘s great to be able to expand our network and offer New Zealanders more choice in both the retail and business fuel market. Companies that regularly travel between Auckland and Northland, for example, can now get there and back again using our Waitomo fuel cards, which guarantees them a great rate.”

Waitomo began in Te Kuiti in 1947 and is now one of the largest independent suppliers of petroleum products in New Zealand. The company also supports other New Zealand business by ensuring all their commercial tanks, equipment and other products sold, such as diesel emissions fluid, are manufactured locally instead of being imported.

“We‘re all about ‘Kiwis fuelling Kiwis‘ and we‘re proud to be 100 per cent locally owned and operated,” Ormsby said.

“Given the scale of the New Zealand fuel market, there is plenty of scope for Waitomo to keep growing. In 2017 we‘ll continue to add more fuel stops and service stations to create a robust network throughout the North Island that drivers can rely on.”