Waitomo Group is a New Zealand fuel retailing and distribution company. It is based in
Hamilton and has 70 petrol stations around the country including 9 in the
Auckland Region
Auckland () is one of the sixteen regions of New Zealand, which takes its name from the eponymous urban area. The region encompasses the Auckland Metropolitan Area, smaller towns, rural areas, and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Containing ...
.
Waitomo sells
Mobil
Mobil is a petroleum brand owned and operated by American oil and gas corporation ExxonMobil. The brand was formerly owned and operated by an oil and gas corporation of the same name, which itself merged with Exxon to form ExxonMobil in 1999.
...
fuel, diesel, lubricants and solvents through its branded petrol stations and to commercial clients, including businesses, agricultural contractors, roading and civil engineering contractors, forestry crews, workshops, quarries and farms. It also offers bulk fuel supply, onsite diesel supply and fuel and oil storage solutions.
Waitomo Group petrol stations are
no frills, with 24-hour
pay at the pump systems, high-flow diesel lanes and vapour recovery technology.
History
The company was founded by Desmond Ormsby in
Te Kūiti in 1947.
The company was still independently owned and operated Desmond Ormsby's grandfather Jimmy in 2021.
Previously, Mobil owned a stake in Waitomo, but this stake was bought back by the Ormsby family in 2002.
Three Waitomo stations were opened in the first three months of 2019, including an outlet in
Papamoa, Tauranga.
Waitomo Group opened its first lower North Island stores in
Clouston Park, Upper Hutt in May 2019 and
Thorndon, Wellington in July.
The company opened its first South Island outlet in
Central Christchurch
Christchurch Central City or Christchurch City Centre is the geographical centre and the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is defined as the area within the Four Avenues (Bealey Avenue, Fitzgerald Avenue, Moorhouse Avenue and Deans Aven ...
in December 2019.
It opened another Christchurch outlet and two more Dunedin outlets in August 2020.
In 2021, Waitomo was involved in plans to sell
hydrogen fuel at 100 locations by 2030.
Waitomo Group warned of rising fuel prices when the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. An ...
began in late February 2022.
The Waitomo Group petrol station in
Papanui, Christchurch sold out of fuel on 11 March 2022, after the company announced its intention to raise fuel prices.
Long queues were reported at other Waitomo stations around the country.
The company claimed the wholesale price rise was unprecedented.
It denied making the price announcement as a
publicity stunt.
References
External links
Official website
{{Retailers in New Zealand
Automotive fuel retailers
Oil and gas companies of New Zealand