Helite NZ is the official New Zealand distributor for Helite airbag protection, which is designed and made in France and carries CE certification. It sells airbag vests, jackets and backpacks for motorcycling, cycling, seniors and industrial work, and ships across New Zealand from its website. The vests come in two versions. A mechanical version is triggered by a lanyard that connects the rider to the bike, and needs no charging. An electronic version uses sensors to detect a fall, and the vest needs charging about once a week. After a deployment, the CO2 cartridge is replaced and the airbag is ready again. The company says a mechanical airbag inflates in under 100 milliseconds. The site also lists a 15 per cent discount on high-visibility vests, which we hear is a time-limited offer.