Hi Simon
Hiko is NOT an Alibaba special but a straight up NZ Firm based out near Auckland Airport with their bikes available from a variety of agents such as Bikes and Barbers in Newmarket and Off The Chain Cycles in Dunedin. The Hiko range was on show at the 2019 e-bike exhibition at the Cloud on the Auckland waterfront with both their single rider bikes and their cargo bikes on display and able to be trialed then and there. Not much help to you however in Dunedin…! 🙂
Like you, when I was looking could not find any independent reviews about any of the Hiko models. Since then I have found this one: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/hikobike.co.uk . On a personal note I trialed many different e-bikes over a period of around two years asking lots of sales people lots of probably very basic questions. I found I kept returning to the Hiko Rangler so I duly purchased one a year ago – a decision I have not regretted. I have found the bike to be excellent and it certainly meets all my needs (general use around town and also on bike and rail trails – a really good hybrid). I would suggest that even Baldwin Street would be well within the Rangler’s capacity – it certainly zooms up Mt Eden!
Hiko as a firm I have found to be very easy to talk to and from whom to seek advice and suggestions. Oliver, the owner, goes that extra mile which I have really appreciated. It may pay to give the firm a ring and have a chat.
