20 Sep 2013

New Zealanders embrace online sales

7:31 am on 20 September 2013

Research suggests New Zealanders are more likely to shop online than Australians.

Australian company Roy Morgan Research says in April, 47.5% of New Zealanders aged over 14 said they would buy something over the internet in an average four-week period.

The figure is 12% higher than among the Australians polled.

A Roy Morgan spokesperson says a possible explanation is the introduction of auction website TradeMe in 1999.

Howard Seccombe says that allowed New Zealanders to embrace online shopping early.

He says New Zealanders are more likely to adopt new technologies than Australians.

The research says New Zealand smartphone users are 10% more likely than Australians to use their mobiles for internet shopping.