The Little-Known Way to Save at the Pump

For many New Zealanders over 50, life does not slowdown in retirement. It simply shifts gears…

There may be fewer daily commutes, but there are more trips to see grandchildren, more weekends away, more time on the road visiting friends, attending appointments, or heading off on the kind of adventures that once had to wait for annual leave.

Fuel is still part of life, and, like many everyday costs, it has a habit of creeping up quietly in the background.

Kora Fuel Cards were established to make that cost a little lighter. Kora gives members at least 10 cents per litre off every fill, every day and is accepted at more than 390 Mobil and Waitomo stations nationwide. People often assume discount fuel cards are just for businesses, but Kora gives the same great discounts to individuals too.

The price you pay is the price on the day, helping you access competitive fuel pricing without having to chase supermarket vouchers or complicated loyalty schemes.

Kora is designed to be straightforward, there is a simple $2 a month admin fee, which most members say they save back on their first full tank. You can track your savings, find stations and manage your account through the Kora app, and payments are flexible, weekly, fortnightly or monthly, much like a power bill.

Today there are more than 18,000 happy Kora members and a dedicated team who read every review and act on feedback. In the four years since launching, Kora has helped save Kiwi drivers more than $5 million at the pump.

For many members, Kora simply becomes part of the weekly routine. It is not about radically changing habits, but about making everyday spending work a little harder. That has certainly been the case for Suzanne.

Suzanne and her husband made the decision during the COVID years to leave Auckland and settle permanently in Kinloch, where they had long owned a holiday home. After decades of work, the move marked a deliberate shift away from the pace of city life. Retirement, for them, is not about stopping. It is about choosing how to spend time.

Their three adult children are spread across Auckland, Mount Maunganui and Tasmania, so travel still features regularly. Some weeks they are back in Auckland for family visits or medical appointments. Other times they are enjoying the quieter rhythm of lakeside living. They would not describe themselves as heavy drivers, but fuel remains a steady part of the household budget, especially when they take out her husband’s pride and joy, a Corvette that runs on 95.

Suzanne first heard about Kora through CEO and founder Liza Cox-Hancy and became one of its earliest members – among the first 30 people to sign up. Before Kora, she had used fuel cards from other fuel providers, but once she made the switch she did not look back. Today, they simply use whichever Kora partner station is most convenient but realises with a little more research they could probably get an even better deal!

Suzanne estimates they spend around $300 a month on fuel. With savings of at least 10 cents per litre, that can add up over a year. Kora says members can save up to $400 annually per car, which could cover a streaming subscription, an insurance bill, or a few extra Friday night takeaways with the family.

It is not life-changing money, she says, but it offers peace of mind knowing they are getting a better price. In retirement, budgeting often shifts from building wealth to protecting it. The focus becomes stretching income further without compromising lifestyle.

For Suzanne, Kora does not require constant monitoring or mental effort. She can see their savings in the app, keep track of spending and know exactly what is coming out and when. On the rare occasions she has needed help, once for advice about the app and another time when they reached their credit limit across two vehicles, the response was immediate and genuinely helpful. That level of service stands out, particularly when quick answers matter.

While she is not someone who regularly talks about saving money with friends, she has recommended Kora to others. Several have since signed up and have been pleased with the experience. Now based in Kinloch as a household of three, with Suzanne’s mother living with them, they continue to use Kora as part of their weekly rhythm. They are not chasing every dollar, but they are thoughtful about where money goes. Kora has become one of those quiet decisions that supports the bigger picture and helps their retirement income go that little bit further.

For those looking for a simple way to reduce one of life’s everyday costs, Kora may be worth considering. To celebrate its growing community of Kiwi members, new sign-ups are currently in to win a year of free fuel. It’s easy to set up, and designed for everyday drivers. If you would like to find out more or sign up, visit Kora and see how much you could save on your next tank.