The petrol price surge may be just the cure New Zealand needed for its obesity problem.
The latest Research New Zealand (RNZ) poll found 59 per cent of New Zealanders said they were using their cars less as a result of higher petrol costs.
That's up 32 per cent on a poll taken six months ago.
RNZ director Emanuel Kalafatelis said it was a remarkable change in behaviour given the short space of time between polls.
"The cost of fuel is clearly hitting New Zealanders hard enough to make them change their behaviour.
"The fact that this latest poll was taken in winter is also interesting as you'd expect people would turn to their cars more when the weather is bad."
Kalafatelis said 48 per cent of participants said they were now walking more often.
"Perhaps it shows that we often drive our cars short distances that could easily be walked instead."
Kalafatelis said walking was by far the most common alternative to driving the car, but 21 per cent said they were not travelling as much, 18 per cent were car pooling and 17 per cent were using public transport.
The research polled 500 people aged 15 and over was conducted by telephone last month.
