With fuel prices front of mind five weeks into the Iran war, more and more Kiwis have taken on alternative commutes, turning to public transport, e-vehicles and some other, more unusual, alternatives.
1News Digital Reporter Polly Wenlock asked Kiwis to share their craziest commute journeys online and some responses stood out as especially unique — paddle-boarding, half-marathon distance runs and fold-up scooter traverses among them.
One respondent said transporting a 6.1m kayak through town after an 11km commute up the Waikato River to work was challenging, especially with some co-workers not so thrilled. "The carpark attendant behind my work wasn’t a huge fan," he said.
Another Kiwi described a routinely hair-raising cycle commute on a second-hand beater bike to work in a logging mill: "It was partly along both 80km/h country roads and a highway that had a huge quantity of freight trucks roaring along it."
The commute left him well awake for his 6am start time. "My life flashed before my eyes multiple times during that period," he said.
In a true show of dedication, one worker described traversing Ashburton by uncomfortable means to her first cafe job, "I would scoot 45 minutes from Hampstead to Tinwald on my folding scooter with little tiny wheels".
Calls for WFH
Some commutes sounded more fun than others - take, for example, one Raglan local's paddle-board to work. But for many the art of the commute has been lost altogether as work from home numbers escalated in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
One Kiwi described their new regular as a "seven second stumble from bedroom to the home office".
StatsNZ numbers showed an increase of nearly 60% in WFH numbers between 2018 and 2023 and similar rises may be seen as the fuel crisis develops.
Under the Government's fuel alert plan, Phase 3 would encourage Kiwis to only use fuel in urgent situations. But, while we aren't there yet, calls for WFH allowances are already being made.
EVs surge, as for many ditching the car not a possibility
One responder said fuel was costly but said their job simply could not be done WFH. "I am an education tutor at a rural prison. So I'm frontline." This meant switching their 2006 Nissan Xtrail — a car she "loved"— for an EV.
"I did a heap of maths, and the payment for the vehicle and insurance is still less than what I pay just in fuel for my truck. The car will pay for itself within four years."
She's not the only one making the change. Some retailers are reporting EVs being sold "off the boat" with one in 5 new registrations now being for electric vehicles.
The commuter noted, however, that buying an EV wasn't a viable financial option for some of her corrections coworkers.
"Some staff can't afford to get to work right now."
One person told 1News they relied on their car, partly due to parental anxieties. "I am a three minute drive from my work, but I always feel like I need to drive so I have my car with me in case there is an emergency with my daughter at day care."
Funding public transport
A large number who spoke with 1News said they already used public transport as part of their daily commute, some for extensive travel.
"I work in an Manukau Operating Theatre once a week but I live in Devonport," said one Aucklander.
"So I bike to the ferry, at the other get the Southern line to Homai Station, then bike to the Hospital. The whole trip takes just over an hour."
Despite the many opportunities for pitfalls he described the journey as pretty smooth, "The only thing that has forced me to drive is when a cruise ship is coming in and they cancel both the 6.00 and 6.30 ferries."
Not so seamless for all though, another commuter said a missed bus meant a half-marathon before work.
"I used to run 10km to the station, and catch the train for the remainder of the journey, but on days I missed the service, I was forced to run 25km order to make my 8am barista shift," she said.
Despite the recent rise in public transport use, cost and reliability were cited by some as being prohibitive.
"In Auckland, it costs me $4.90 each way to bus, versus $10-13 for parking near my city fringe office," said one commuter.
"Whereas, back during Covid — when the bus was $2 and I was saving almost $30 — it made a lot more sense."
In Australia, some states are now offering free public transport to combat fuel-crisis costs, and calls have been made by some for a similar system to be introduced in NZ.
And, in an unusual move, the Green Party said it would vote with National if the party came up with "a sensible and urgent fossil fuel crisis relief package", including free public transport for all.
With that looking unlikely, some will be continuing to paddle, cycle or use an EV to get to work. Or just stay at home and do their job from there if they're able to.
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