The issue was in the news this week when Taupo police conceded they were no longer allowed to use their Segways to patrol the town's streets because vehicle legislation in New Zealand lacks a suitable classification for the stand-on scooters.
The police Segways cost about $13,500 each and have been gathering dust for more than a year after officials ruled they could not legally be used.
Senior Sergeant Brian Benn, of Dunedin, said because the mode of transport had not been separately classified by the New Zealand Transport Agency, they were therefore deemed a motor vehicle, and so could not be operated on a footpath or in a public place.
Anyone riding a Segway in a public place was breaking the law, he said.
Pulse Media owns two Segways, frequently seen roaming Dunedin's CBD with advertising on them.
A company spokesman declined to comment on how the ruling would affect his business.
However, Segway on Q owner Kevin Hey, of Queenstown, believed the issue seemed to be a battle on paper.
"It's not a physical problem. The Government just needs to set to and sort it out.
"Segways are environmentally friendly transport. To stop using them would be an absolute shame."
Mr Hey said he used Segways to give guided tours around Queenstown, and would continue to use them until someone stopped him.
"I've been using them for four years. No-one has ever complained about them - the police have never said anything.
"We're using them in a way that is not causing any problems."
Segways can be legally driven on public streets in most European countries, but this week they were officially banned from pavements and roads in the United Kingdom, due to a test case setting a legal precedent.
A spokesman from the NZTA said a law change would be needed for Segways to gain a vehicle-class status before they could be used on New Zealand public roads and footpaths.
"We're aware that various new devices such as Segways continue to be developed, but they are mainly being used in niche purposes such as tours or leisure, rather than for transportation purposes.
"We understand that there are very few of these devices in New Zealand. At the moment, if they do not meet the requirements of a vehicle class, they may only be used on private property, and their use on footpaths and roads is not legal," he said.
A Ministry of Transport spokeswoman said the Government had no plans to look at changing the law to give Segways a status that would allow their use on public roads and footpaths.
Snr Sgt Benn warned anyone using Segways on Dunedin streets or footpaths could be fined.
"We haven't had any issues with them in Dunedin yet. We've never found them being used on footpaths or on the street in Dunedin, and nobody has complained," he said. "But if they are found on a footpath or on the road, they could be charged - that is, unless the law changes."
Additional reporting by NZPA
