As the price of petrol tips $2 a litre, the Green party has called for the Government to plan for a future of high oil prices.

The Greens are calling the government irresponsible, for borrowing billions to build motorways, without considering the effect of high oil prices.

MP Gareth Hughes says the New Zealand Transport Agency has its head in the sand, and is using outdated transport models based on past trends of cheap oil prices.

In response to questioning from Hughes, Transport Minister Steven Joyce stated that to date, the Government had not conducted any research into the effect of high oil prices on travel patterns.