Police are describing high-powered electric bikes as a "major problem" – with the vehicles often being ridden illegally.
Western Bay of Plenty Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter says police in his district are responding to around four incidents involving electric dirt bikes each week.
"We get complaints every week from different people, different reserves, about these bikes where they've just about run over pedestrians or animals."
Australia is dealing with a spike in deaths and incidents caused by similar high powered electric bikes. Queensland is considering a crackdown after 14 e-bike or e-scooter related deaths in 2025.
Among them, a 15-year-old boy who lost control of his electric motorbike in the Gold Coast in November.
Capable of doing 70km/h
"We see them on some major roads, on the back wheels, doing 60, 70km/h, no helmets", one Gold Coast local told 1News.
"They're very dangerous at the moment, we've had a lot of deaths, a lot of deaths in teenagers", another said.
A Queensland Parliamentary inquiry looking into e-transport safety is due to table its report by March this year, with calls growing for police to be given greater powers to crack down on the use of the high-speed bikes.
Under state law, electric bikes that don't require pedalling were illegal in public.
Hunter said New Zealand had some similar rules.
"It is actually a major problem for us – not so much that [electric] dirt bikes are being used, but they're being used by people who do not know how to ride them, who do not know what licenses they need to have."
Under New Zealand law, you need to have a valid driver's license if the e-bike's motor exceeds 300 watts, if the bike is capable of speeds over 50km/h or if it doesn't have pedals.
In most cases, the bike also needed to be registered and have a warrant of fitness.
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