Tauranga office workers are being encouraged to ride like Jason Momoa and beat the traffic using Vallkree e-bikes endorsed by international celebrities including Momoa, Kelly Slater and New Zealand’s own Tiki Taane.
Mt Maunganui-based entrepreneur Dan Wallace has brought Vallkree to New Zealand to redefine our e-bike market which he says has been dominated by over 50s riding recreationally.
Vallkree bikes have been loaned to staff at BECA, Priority One, and Datacom in Tauranga where they are encouraging their staff to rethink their commute and use their e-bike to get to work. The bikes are also available through WorkRide. The scheme supports employers to purchase bikes, e-bikes, or scooters on behalf of staff members and lease them to their employees. The employee pays the bike or scooter back over the following year through pay deductions.
“We want to redefine how Kiwis perceive eco-friendly commuting. The rest of the world is just destroying New Zealand with green initiatives. I have lived 14 years overseas, and if you go anywhere in Europe, everybody’s got a commuter e-bike in their garage,” says Dan.
“Traffic in Tauranga is dire, and we need more people commuting. These bikes are designed with style in mind. They can cover about 50km on a single charge and reach speeds up to 40km/h,” says Dan. Vallkree e-bikes was founded in 2012 by Japanese-Australian surfer Terumi Iwagami, who designed them to skip heavy traffic in Byron Bay town and speed straight to the surf. The brand’s commitment to sustainable transport has garnered a global following, attracting the attention of icons like Kelly Slater and Jason Momoa, who endorse Vallkree bikes as their ride of choice, and now New Zealand’s own Tiki Taane.
Dan has 10 distributors nationwide, and aside from their vintage-inspired design the bikes are also unique in New Zealand because they can be ordered online and shipped directly to customers.
Vallkree models like the Moon Dog can also take multiple passengers, with spacious seating and cargo racks, making them ideal for families, couples, or anyone seeking a stylish alternative to traditional transportation.
“Vallkree are the first e-bikes in New Zealand that Kiwis can get shipped directly to them and assemble. We know Kiwis are still averse to buying big-ticket items online which is why we’ve kept distributors too. People can also get their bike sent to the distributor to assemble,” says Dan.
Vallkree bikes also stand out for their customisation options, offering a wide range of colors and configurations, from sleek black to vibrant pink.
“We’re thrilled to bring Vallkree’s bikes to New Zealand, offering consumers a sustainable and stylish alternative to traditional transportation. Our direct-to-consumer model and customisation options mean Vallkree is poised to revolutionize the way Kiwis commute,” says Dan.
