Napier will begin a trial of e-scooters, joining the list of cities using the new transport method.
A two-year trial of Beam scooters is planned to start later this month, with up to 200 e-scooters to be available in mid-summer.
The company will work with the city council to trial a small number of e-scooters, with plans to build the numbers up.
The scooters will be available for hire using an app, with both one-off trip and subscription options possible.
Napier City Council acting chief executive Richard Munneke told RNZ News scooters were a fun way to get around, and had been successful in other cities.
“We are continuously focussed on mitigating the impacts of climate change, making e-scooters available is a great initiative to encourage people to opt for more climate-friendly modes of transport while also reducing dependency on cars,” he said.
“Now that cruise ships have returned, e-scooters also allow visitors to our City a means to easily get around our local attractions.”
A company spokesperson said there is a need for more e-scooter use, and plenty of scope for it to grow in New Zealand.
“As micro-mobility becomes more commonplace in New Zealand, we believe its usage will only continue to increase exponentially, with more citizens engaging on the streets and leaving their cars behind.”
Beam already operates e-scooters in Auckland, Wellington, Palmerston North, Whanganui and Whangārei, as well as in several Asian countries.
