Karl Savage, seen with daughter Amy-Leigh Savage, 6, and son Kade Savage, 10, has organised a protest on Sunday in reaction to rising fuel costs.

Fuel price protests are planned for Timaru as motorists continue to feel the pinch of a new excise tax hiking petrol prices nationwide by 3.5 per cents per litre.

Karl Savage, a Timaru painter, has organised a series of protests at fuel stations throughout the region, the first outside Z Caroline Bay, Theodosia St, on Sunday. He says the protest is just the first of many he will hold until petrol stations lower their fuel prices.

His complaint has been echoed by other New Zealanders with a nationwide strike to take place at fuel stations on October 26. The strike's Facebook event listing says the action is a way of taking a stand against the New Zealand petrol industry.

ROSA WOODS/STUFF Energy and Resources minister Megan Woods says like all New Zealanders, she is concerned about the rising price of petrol. (File)

The tax, which came into effect on Sunday, is part of the Government's plan to raise the excise duty on petrol by 10.5 cents a litre over the next two years.

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Savage said he is aware of the October 26 strike but wants the Timaru protests to be "peaceful but vocal".

"I'm just trying to point out a few things," he said.

"If they are saying it's tax then why are there such varying prices at different pumps?"

Savage said the cost of fuel was also hurting his painting business.

"It's hurting tradies overall.

"I mean, they say wages are going up but they are not, it's just being taken back in taxes."

Savage suggested $2 a litre was a fair price at the pump for 91.

"Knock the price back I say; they have to sort something out because it's hurting the average Kiwi."

Savage's mate Ray Cotton is also supporting the cause.

Cotton, father of three and a truck driver, said rising fuel costs were affecting "everything".

"Take the supermarket for example. Everything is transported by truck so what are the supermarkets going to do eventually."

Both men own Holden Commodores and said they loved taking their kids out in the car on the weekends.

"It's getting harder to do that," Cotton said.

Somebody had to make a noise, he said.

"The more people who get involved in it the better."

Savage said the location of the next protest will be revealed on Sunday.

Energy and Resources minister Megan Woods said, like all New Zealanders, she is concerned about the rising price of petrol.

"This is something the Government is monitoring closely," she said.

"A previous report by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) found there was evidence to suggest the market was not fully competitive.

"It found that the rise in producer margins since 2008 represent a transfer of wealth from consumers to producers to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars a year."

Woods said many of the fuel companies refused to co-operate with the study.

"That's why we are progressing legislation that empowers the Commerce Commission the ability to combat market studies, compel the evidence and examine important information on how a market is functioning.

"That law change is going through parliament at the moment.

"Kiwis need to have confidence they are a getting a fair deal at the pump."

Z Energy external communications manager Sheena Thomas said the company respected people's right to protest.

"So long as they do it safely and peacefully. We need to keep our customers safe too."

Sunday's protest begins at 12 noon.

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