Tauranga residents will be the first to witness New Zealand Post's new electric delivery vehicles in operation, when driver training begins next week.

The four-wheeled vehicles will be used for the combined delivery of parcels and mail in residential areas of New Zealand's larger towns and cities.

The rollout started last year, and the vehicles have now arrived in Tauranga.

'This is part of a national rollout of the electric vehicles and I'm proud that people in Tauranga will get to see them in their local communities,” says Tauranga area service delivery manager Trevor Grainger.

The vehicles can carry up to 200kg of parcels and mail but are still small enough to be used on the footpath.

'These vehicles are an investment in New Zealand Post's future as we change the way we deliver to meet the growing demand for parcel deliveries,” says Trevor.

'They're also helping us find new ways to reduce our carbon emissions of every parcel we deliver.”

'Previous trials and experience from using them in other locations have shown these vehicles are safe to use on the footpath. Our drivers receive safety training, and they will give way to all other footpath users,” says Trevor Grainger.

New Zealand Post has worked with the Tauranga City Council to gain approval to operate the vehicles on footpaths in residential areas, and will continue to keep in close contact with them.

The vehicles will not be used in main shopping areas because of the high number of pedestrians, and mail will be delivered by other modes of transport in these locations.