Online Shopping Trends

New Zealanders talk online, work online and shop online, but are they online savvy? 

As we approach the end of the year, we’re anticipating online shopping to reach its annual peak. So let’s protect the common Kiwi from scams this season. 

Kiwi shoppers spent $1.39 billion online on physical goods in the second quarter of 2024 (Q2 2024), up 1% from the same period last year (Q2 2023). This marginal growth in spending was driven by an 8% increase in the number of online transactions.

Kiwis spent $1.39 billion online on physical goods in the first quarter of 2024 (Q1 2024). Despite the tough economic times, and a lower average spend per transaction, online spending overall was up 2% on Q1 2023. Online’s continued growth this quarter was driven by 19% more online transactions than the same quarter in 2023.

Kiwi shoppers spent $1.6 billion online on physical goods in quarter four of 2023 (Q4 2023), up 5% on Q4 2022.

Online spending reached $5.8 billion for 2023, just 4% below 2022’s level. Given how tough the economic conditions were in 2023, the extent shoppers tightened their belts, and the fact that 2022 had an exceptionally strong first quarter due to COVID restrictions, this should be considered a strong result.