She lay there terrified until Mrs Cranswick found her more than four hours later and called 111 and ran to a neighbour's home for help.
Last night, Mrs Cranswick said she was not a hero. "I just did what everyone else would do - I called her an ambulance and waited with her until they arrived."
It was the second time she had come to someone's aid while delivering the Herald early in the morning.
About a week ago she came across a head-on collision between two young men and a truck.
No one was seriously injured in the crash, but Mrs Cranswick used her delivery van to divert traffic and stayed with the "dazed and confused" pair in the car until an ambulance arrived.
Her boss, Chris Treloar, of the Mt Manganui Distribution Franchise which distributes the New Zealand Herald, said her actions were commendable.
"She's a good girl and she's been with us for a number of years. I wouldn't expect anything else of Vanessa, she's that sort of person."
He said despite helping the injured woman, Mrs Cranswick still managed to finish her deliveries on time.
A St John Ambulance spokesman said the elderly woman was in a stable condition in Tauranga Hospital with facial injuries and hypothermia.
Tauranga Age Concern board chairwoman Angela Scott described the incident as shocking and concerning. "Thank goodness the woman was found when she was."
Mrs Scott said it was important for people to have the "support of family, friends and close neighbours who can check up on us".
