WIP publications

Internet Trends in New Zealand 2007 – 2015

Report tracks how New Zealanders Internet usage has changed over nine years

After surveying New Zealanders about their online usage every two years for the past nine years, AUT's Institute of Culture, Discourse and Communication has released a new report showing the remarkable impact of the internet on our lives over almost a decade.

The report, Internet Trends in New Zealand 2007-2015, compares findings from the five World Internet Project New Zealand surveys which were compiled from more than 7000 questionnaires. It tracks key trends in how our online behaviour has altered over the past nine ears, across all major social groupings, and reveals how our daily communication, consumer interactions and sources of news and information have changed; in some cases, dramatically.

The 2015 World Internet Project New Zealand

The 2015 World Internet Project in New Zealand surveyed 1377 people about their usage and attitudes towards the internet. This is the fifth survey conducted by researchers at Auckland University of Technology since 2007.

Each biennial survey successively helps to develop a better understanding of how New Zealanders' are using the internet and how their habits and attitudes are changing as the technology evolves. The WIPNZ survey is part of an international collaborative project undertaken in 39 countries.

A wide range of questions are asked about what devices people use, where they use them, and the time spent on the internet. We question people about their online activities such as information seeking, entertainment, buying or selling products, communicating with others, social networking and posting content online.

Also of interest are people's attitudes towards the reliability of information online as well as privacy and security in using the internet.

Funding for the 2015 survey is provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, InternetNZ and Buzz Channel Marketing.

The Roll-out of Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) in New Zealand, 2015

Internet Trends in NZ Report 2007–2013
Seven Years Tracking New Zealanders' use of the Internet

July 2014

WIP New Zealand Report 2013

21 November 2013

The latest WIP New Zealand Report provides an in-depth analysis of New Zealanders' usage of, and attitudes towards, the internet in 2013.

View the full report, questionnaire and media release below.

WIP International Report 2012

(Includes WIPNZ data from 2011).

15 December 2012

The World Internet Project in New Zealand is one of a number of studies conducted by more than 40 countries that contribute to the World Internet Project, an international collaborative project looking at the social, political and economic impact of the internet and other new technologies.

This report compares the 2011 WIPNZ data with a range of other partner countries. An international report including 2013 WIPNZ results will be prepared and released in 2014.

WIP International Comparisons: Highlights from a NZ Perspective

(Includes data from WIPNZ 2009).

28 June 2012

The results of the 2009 World Internet Project NZ (WIPNZ) survey have recently appeared in an international report comparing 14 WIP international partner countries.

The WIPNZ team have prepared a short report of highlights from these international comparisons, looking at the results from a New Zealand perspective.

The full version of the report — released by the University of Southern California Annenberg School Center for the Digital Future — includes a range of international survey questions, as well as presenting 2010 survey results for seven countries.

World Internet Project — full survey and comparison 2011

9 December 2011

The third World Internet Project New Zealand survey was conducted in July–August 2011. The sample of 1255 New Zealanders were asked about their usage of and attitudes to the Internet. The latest findings are compared with the 2007 and 2009 surveys and the significant trends presented.

Comparison: 2007-2009

17 November 2010

The internet is moving out from behind closed doors in homes to communal places like lounges and kitchens the latest World Internet Project figures report.

The second bi-annual survey of more than 1200 New Zealanders shows the internet is increasingly moving into open spaces in the house. The percentage of people who use the internet mainly in living areas (including lounge, kitchen, dining room) rose from 33 per cent in 2007 to 45 per cent in 2009.

The report which compares data collected in 2007 and the most recent data collected in late 2009 investigates New Zealanders' usage of and attitudes towards the internet.

Full survey 2009

The second full survey was conducted in August and September 2009. It questioned a sample of 1250 New Zealanders about their usage of, and attitudes towards, the Internet. Analysis focused on the social, political and economic impact of the Internet in New Zealand.

Please note that the 2009 Report is based on a sample of respondents aged 12 years old and over. The 2007 Report was based on a sample aged 16 years and over. For this reason, direct comparison between the figures in the 2007 and 2009 Reports is not recommended.

International comparisons (2008)

The first World Internet Project report comparing findings across 13 countries within the WIP group was collated in late 2008. This report provides a benchmark for international comparisons regarding the social, political and economic impact of the Internet. Purchase the full report.

Full Survey 2007

The first full survey was conducted in September-October 2007. It questioned a sample of 1529 New Zealanders about their usage of, and attitudes towards, the Internet. Analysis focused on the social, political and economic impact of the Internet in New Zealand.

Pilot survey 2007

In 2007, a preliminary pilot study of New Zealand internet use was completed as a precursor to the full WIP NZ surveys. This pilot survey was designed to test the WIP methodology in a New Zealand environment and was conducted on a sample of 100 New Zealanders.