Posties power through on new bikes

Rotorua postie Andrew Teasdale has mail deliveries sorted using the new motorised e-bike. Photo / Ben Fraser

Postman Pat might not agree but Rotorua mailman Andrew Teasdale is sold on new motorised "e-bikes" being wheeled out by New Zealand Post for leg-weary posties.

Around 25 of the shiny red Timaru-made Reiker bikes have been assigned to Rotorua staff in the nationwide rollout to ensure householders' mail delivery is not held up.

The power-assisted bikes come with a 36-volt battery behind the seat and a small motor in the front wheel hub, which is activated when pedalling.

"We were a bit sceptical of them at first but they certainly make the job a lot easier," said Mr Teasdale, who has had the bike for the past week.

"Once you start pedalling, the motor kicks in and you don't have to use so much effort getting up hills.

"But if you stop pedalling, the bike will stop as well."

Mr Teasdale delivers mail in Victoria and Glenholme, and estimated he covered around 25-45km a day and up to 200km a week, depending on mail volumes.

Since the amount of mail had dropped from around 2000 items to 700-800 items a week, the delivery rounds had got bigger to compensate, he said.

New Zealand Post spokesman Richard Trow said the bikes had been given to city centres where the terrain was suitable to ride.

Rotorua was one of the first places to get the bikes, he said.

The new bikes were suitable for delivering an increasing number of parcels as the letter delivery business continued to decline, he said.

Around a billion mail items a year were delivered to letterboxes five years ago.

That was now down to 640 million per year and falling, he said.

"There's obviously a limit to the load posties can carry, so the e-bikes are one option NZ Post is adopting.

"Other vehicle types are also being trialled, the rollout of which will depend on things such as local terrain, postie round size and mix of items."

The bikes have a top speed of 25km/h and 10km/h on footpaths. The battery lasts between 30km and 35km.