The recent surge in fuel prices is doing more than stretching household budgets. Public health researchers say it is worsening transport poverty, making it harder for thousands of New Zealanders to access healthcare, education, employment and even basic necessities such as food.
A new briefing from the Public Health Communication Centre warns that volatile fuel prices, combined with ongoing cost-of-living pressures, are increasing health inequities across Aotearoa and exposing the country’s heavy reliance on private vehicles.
The report highlights that the average New Zealand household already spends $252 a week, or 15.7 percent of total household expenditure, on transport. Recent fuel price increases linked to conflict in the Middle East have reportedly added an average of $65 per week to household fuel bills, placing even greater pressure on family finances.
Researchers say many people have little choice but to absorb the higher costs or forgo essential travel. That includes trips to GP appointments, hospitals, workplaces, schools and supermarkets.
University of Otago Associate Professor Angela Curl, who led the briefing, says transport poverty limits access to many of the key factors that influence health and wellbeing, including healthcare, nutritious food, education, employment and social connection.
The report estimates around 134,000 adults miss GP appointments each year because of transport difficulties, while transport costs also contribute to missed maternity care and create barriers for people trying to access employment.
For many whānau, rising fuel prices mean difficult choices between paying for transport or covering other essentials such as groceries and heating. Researchers warn these trade-offs can contribute to poorer physical and mental health outcomes, particularly for low-income households already under financial strain.
The briefing argues that short-term government relief measures do not address the underlying causes of transport poverty and leave many vulnerable groups, including students, unpaid carers and people who are out of work, without meaningful support.
Instead, the authors call for long-term investment in healthier and more sustainable transport systems that reduce dependence on private vehicles and fossil fuels.
Their recommendations include better urban planning to reduce the need for long-distance travel, greater investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, expanded public transport services and tailored transport solutions for rural communities, including community transport initiatives and mobile services.
The report says reducing reliance on private vehicles would not only improve resilience to future fuel price shocks but also deliver wider benefits for public health, equity and the environment.
For Māori communities, many of whom live in rural and regional areas where public transport options are limited, transport affordability remains a significant issue. Reliable and affordable transport is often essential for accessing healthcare, education, employment opportunities and maintaining connections with whānau and marae.
As fuel prices continue to fluctuate, researchers say addressing transport poverty should become a key part of improving health equity and building a more resilient transport system for all New Zealanders.
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