This article and the comments show that we're probably not that different from Australia in total costs to run a car on the road.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/985...r-in-australia
I agree that once a 50L tankful costs over $100, I'm thinking about it. Must be tough for the oil companies to hand over all those levies they've collected for the govt, it would have to be a big cheque.
Would more fuel levies be a regressive tax? Maybe not, big road users with big rigs would pay a fair bit of it, and those lacking funds are already limiting their vehicle use. Those queues at petrol stations are often worsened with people dutifully trudging inside to get a pump authorised, and then they're only buying $10 worth.