How-to searches reveal a nation eager to learn
Kiwis' "how-to" searches in 2024 reveal a nation eager to learn, adapt and explore the digital world. "How to watch the Olympics in NZ" emerged as #1, showing a sporting nation keen to catch the action even from afar. Beyond sports, “How to lock Facebook profile" reflects a growing desire for online privacy.
“How to make human in Infinite Craft" and "How to say Happy Matariki in te reo” showcased a country embracing both digital innovation and cultural heritage. And who could forget the "How to mew" trend? This tongue-positioning technique, promising a sculpted jawline, demonstrates the unpredictable nature of online trends.
Finally, no Kiwi year would be complete without the America's Cup, with "How to watch America's Cup in NZ" rounding out the top searches.
Beyond the trends
This year's Google searches paint a vivid picture of New Zealand in 2024: a nation connected to the world yet proud of its unique identity, embracing both tradition and technology, with a keen interest in everything from sports and current events to quirky online trends.
To bring the year's top trending searches to life visually, we collaborated with the Kākano Youth Arts Collective, a programme that supports vulnerable young artists. Our collaborating artist has brilliantly used birds to show some of the key moments of 2024 – very cool and very Kiwi!
Explore the Year in Search website to see the full list and uncover more of what intrigued Kiwis this year. And if you're on TikTok, keep an eye out for our cool new filter, to have fun guessing what Kiwis "Googled" the most in 2024!
