The Automobile Association says the profits made by oil companies BP and Shell are almost obscene.

BP has posted a 48 percent increase in first quarter profit of $8.5 billion, while Shell's profit has risen 12 percent to $10.1 billion dollars.

AA spokesman Mike Noon says it does not sit well with motorists to see profits that are bigger than telephone numbers. He says the profits seem to be almost obscene, particularly when motorists in New Zealand are hurting so much.

Mr Noon says there are lot of very unhappy motorists complaining about BP always leading the the charge in increasing prices at the pump.