Petrol prices have soared to a record high, with most retailers increasing the price of 91-octane fuel to just under $2.23 a litre.
It's a cent higher than the previous record price, reached in May 2011.
AA spokesman Mark Stockdale says what motorists are experiencing is the usual kind of fluctuation expected with petrol prices.
"Recently we were fortunate that they went down a lot, they went down under $2 a litre," he told NZ Newswire.
"Now we've got to take some bad medicine and they've gone back up."
Mr Stockdale said the concern for motorists is where fuel price rises will end.
"We don't know the answer to that but there's no reason why they might not come down again," he said.
"I think ultimately though, if we actually look at the last 10 years, the trend is quite clear that fuel prices are going to continue to rise over time."
Petrol prices are sensitive to both local and international conditions, Mr Stockdale said.
"Fuel prices are very volatile, they're subject to a whole range of influences and that's because it's a finite resource and yet global demand is growing."
Independent retailer Gull is holding its prices for now.
NZN