First Gull site to open in Maheno in July with a further five in planning consenting process, others to follow
Maheno, South Island, 8 April 2019 – Gull, New Zealand’s leading innovative energy retailer, today announced it is
aiming for a July launch of its first South Island site in Maheno on State Highway 1 South of Oamaru.
Dave Bodger General Manager Gull New Zealand says New Zealand motorists have been asking Gull to bring the “Gull Effect”
to the South Island for many years.
“We have been inundated with thousands of requests to launch the “Gull Effect” in the South Island and so we are stoked
to be bringing competitive prices to Mainland motorists who have been paying far too much for their petrol for far too
long,” says Bodger.
“It’s not rocket science that greater competition is what will give much better value to South Island motorists and so
we are excited to be launching the Gull brand with a further five Gull sites in the planning and consenting process and
due to open in the next one to two years.”
“The ‘Gull Effect’ may not reach far beyond Maheno initially but we know that many people travel through Maheno and our build programme
that follows will greatly extend Gull’s reach in the South Island. We have development sites in greater Canterbury, in
Christchurch and are very optimistic for opportunities for Gull across the South Island. “
“Maheno is an awesome place for us to plant Gull’s first ID sign for the South Island. We know the South Island motorist
wants great value for their fuel and don’t want to pay for all the ‘bling and glitter’ that many of our opposition are keen to build. “
“‘Flash Harry’ opposition needs a high petrol price to pay back his expensive investment in fancy sites but Gull doesn’t
operate that way – we prefer to keep dollars in our customers wallets which has always been Gull’s aim. As a passionate
Mainlander from Christchurch it is fantastic to be finally bringing the Gull Brand south,” notes Bodger.
Bodger concludes that while Maheno is an existing service station under an independent brand, Gull has obtained the
lease on the property.
“We will add additional tanks to boost fuel capacity and operate the site as a Gull unmanned site from July with payment
for fuel via credit and debit cards.”
The “Gull Effect” is a term coined by the AA after observing how opposition sites lower their fuel prices to match when
a Gull site opens in the town or neighbourhood. With independent surveys noting South Island Fuel prices of ten to
twenty cents per litre above a North island prices for several years this will be a welcome effect for southern
motorists.
ENDS