Auckland police have turned to e-bikes to give them an edge in a planned Queen's Birthday blitz on drivers in down town.

A handful of officers will be patrolling the streets of Auckland CBD on e-bikes over the long-weekend to bust people using their phones while driving and not wearing seatbelts.

Police are no strangers to patrolling Auckland on push-bikes, said road policing's Simon Welsh, but the motorised element of the e-bike will make certain elements of the job easier.

CHRIS MCKEEN/STUFF Officers on e-bikes will be looking out for drivers using mobile phones while driving and driving without seatbelts.

"Because of the amount of equipment that police have to wear, they're very loaded down; so If they have to ride from Quay St to K-Rd - an e-bike will make it easier for them.'

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Welsh said it will be the first time New Zealand police have used e-bikes to patrol.

CHRIS MCKEEN/STUFF Auckland police will patrol the city on e-bike over the long-weekend.

"It's a bit of a first for us, we've had cops on bicycles before but, as far as I'm aware this is the first time we've ever used e-bikes.

"We're doing it in Auckland and there are a few bikes in Wellington."

He said the New Zealand Transport Agency was supplying the bikes over the long-weekend patrol for a trial, of sorts.

"The idea is to get out and about in the city and focus on distraction devices, ie mobile phones, and seat belts."

"Its not designed to pursue anyone, the main reason to use them is it gives officers more mobility and they can cover more miles."

The road policing team had been practicing in the week leading up the the long-weekend, making short trips around the CBD and getting used to the controls.

E-bikes turbo-charge pedalling effort with power from an electric motor, powered by batteries that are recharged at an ordinary power point.

Hills become easier, acceleration faster, and average speed higher.

Welsh said the top speed the e-bikes can do alone is 32kmh, and anything over and above that will come from pedal power.

"Another advantage of being on a bicycle is that you can look down into a vehicle, because you're slightly higher, so people using mobile devices in their laps will need to be aware cops will be able to see more effectively into their vehicle.

"It's all a bit of an unknown [if e-bikes will become a permanent fixture] for us at this stage, we'll have to look at the results at the end of the Queens Birthday holiday period."