March 02, 2026

#national: Kiwis Spending More Time Online — But Growing Uneasy About the Internet

Matthew Tukaki Posted On March 2, 2026

New research from InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa shows New Zealanders are spending as much time online as ever — yet confidence in the benefits of the Internet continues to decline.

The latest Internet Insights report reveals that 47 percent of New Zealanders now spend four or more hours of their personal time online each day. Social media, email, and streaming television and music dominate how that time is used.

Despite this heavy usage, only 72 percent of Internet users believe the positives of the Internet outweigh the negatives. That figure has steadily fallen since 2019, when 90 percent of respondents viewed the Internet more favourably. The data also shows declining belief in the Internet’s positive impact on cultural beliefs and values, with just 32 percent now seeing it as having a beneficial cultural influence — down five percentage points over the past two years.

The research paints a picture of a complex and evolving relationship between New Zealanders and the digital world. While the Internet is deeply embedded in everyday life – for work, connection and entertainment – many users are increasingly wary of its risks.

Top concerns include children accessing inappropriate content, cited by 71 percent of respondents. Sixty-five percent are worried about the security of their personal data, while 64 percent are concerned about misinformation. Notably, misinformation has entered the top three concerns for the first time, reflecting heightened awareness of the spread of false or misleading information online, including content generated by artificial intelligence.

The data also highlights differences in concern across communities. Seventy percent of Māori respondents report high levels of concern about identity theft. Eighty-seven percent of Pacific peoples are extremely or very concerned about young children being exposed to inappropriate content online. Māori and Pacific communities also report elevated concern about the Internet being used to share dangerous or discriminatory messaging.

Age plays a significant role in digital anxiety. Nearly half of people aged 30 to 49 are concerned that the Internet is distracting or a waste of time, while 76 percent of those aged 70 and over express serious concern about personal data security.

A further finding of concern is that fewer than one in three respondents say they know where to report harmful or dangerous content encountered online, suggesting gaps in digital literacy and public awareness.

The Internet Insights 2025 research was conducted by Verian between late November and early December last year, surveying just over 1,000 New Zealanders aged 18 and over. The results carry a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

InternetNZ, the independent not-for-profit organisation responsible for managing the .nz domain, says the findings highlight the need for continued investment in digital safety, media literacy and accessible online reporting tools. The organisation reinvests revenue from .nz domains into grants, advocacy and initiatives aimed at ensuring the Internet remains safe, inclusive and beneficial for communities across Aotearoa.

As New Zealanders continue to spend significant portions of their daily lives online, the research suggests the national conversation is shifting — from embracing digital opportunity to grappling with how to make the online world safer, fairer and more trustworthy.