The 2013 America's Cup is Google's most searched keywords in New Zealand. The sudden deaths of Cory Monteith and Paul Walker were among the top five trending searches in New Zealand based on Google's annual trends report together with the birth of the royal baby, Prince George.

Google spokesperson Annie Baxter said the list of top searched words provides insight on what most New Zealanders have been searching for in 2013. Google's annual list includes trending New Zealanders, news events, and Internet lingo.

Kiwi chart-topping singer Lorde, who rose to the top of music charts with her "Royals" single, became the fifth most popular keyword search in New Zealand. Ms Baxter said that Lorde may have reached international fame, but the singer still has a strong following in New Zealand.

Basketball player Steven Adams and Team New Zealand captain Dean Barker were among the trending New Zealanders.

The Boston Marathon bombing and Typhoon Haiyan were among the most talked about in the country. Both were included in top 10 news events. Aside from reading about international news, New Zealanders kept up with local issues like the earthquakes and Matariki.

Other popular Google searches by Kiwis were "what is twerking," "how to kiss," and "where is Hobbiton."

New Zealanders also expressed interest in health topics with popular searches like "what is depression," "what is gluten," and "what is diabetes." Information related to arts and crafts were also popular in 2013, with New Zealanders searching for "how to knit," "how to draw," and "how to crochet."

Comparing Google trends in New Zealand for the past 6 years, the only recurring searches in the top 10 lists were Facebook, YouTube, Olympics, iPhone, and lotto.

Nelson Mandela did not make it in New Zealand's top Google searches. The information was surprising to Russell Brown, a media commentator and blogger. He said that perhaps this was because people in New Zealand already know more about the late leader than other countries.

Based on the Google report, the majority of searches in New Zealand were triggered by news events instead of ongoing interests.

Top trending searches in New Zealand

1. Americas Cup

2. Paul Walker

3. Royal baby

4. Cory Monteith

5. Lorde

6. Wheedle

7. Earthquakes today

8. Iphone 5s

9. Harlem shake

10. X factor NZ

Google's Top Trending People

1. Paul Walker

2. Cory Monteith

3. Lorde

4. Kim Karhashian baby

5. Nelson Mandela

6. Paul Holmes

7. Amanda Bynes

8. Nigella Lawson

9. Jesse Ryder

10. Ruby Frost

Trending New Zealanders

1. Lorde

2. Ruby Frost

3. Bevan Chuang

4. Jesse Ryder

5. Len Brown

6. Dean Barker

7. Steven Adams

8. Daniel Bedingfield

9. Jackie Thomas

10. Mark Hunt

Trending news events in New Zealand

1. Americas cup

2. Boston bombing

3. Wellington earthquake

4. New pope

5. Kate Middleton baby

6. Rolf Harris

7. North Korea news

8. Auckland earthquake

9. Typhoon Haiyan

10. Oklahoma tornado

RELATED STORIES