Looking back and forward with Trade Me

As New Zealand’s largest online marketplace, Trade Me has a big influence on the trends that shape online shopping in New Zealand. They are also impacted by those external impacts – like a global pandemic – that impact all retailers.

David Swift, Trade Me’s Global Sales Manager, tells us how the events of 2020 impacted them and he looks ahead at what 2021 could bring.

Woman looking down at packaging

Online retail builds momentum ahead of Peak

Retail's recovery gained momentum in Q3 2026, with spending on physical goods increasing 4.6% year-on-year.
woman shopping online

Online retail grows as cautious confidence returns

The first half of 2026 is showing us the early signs of a retail recovery. Online spending in the first half of 2026 was up 12% compared to the same period in 2025.