New Zealanders Use Smartphones More Often Than Australians for Banking, Browsing, Shopping

New Zealanders are apparently not concerned with online privacy issues despite the explosive NSA leaks that sparked worldwide uproar and sent whistleblower Edward Snowden to seek asylum in Russia. According to a survey in Roy Morgan Research's The Digital Universe, Kiwis are more likely to do their banking using their smartphones than Australians.

The results are part of a report on how technology affects users' shopping habits, media consumption, attitudes and social interactions. The Digital Universe report also compared how New Zealanders and Australians use the Internet.

The report revealed that although New Zealanders do not buy new technology often than Australians, they use it more effectively.

Between January 2008 and June 2013, about 12,000 New Zealanders were interviewed to gather data for the survey. Kiwis were also spending more money online with few complaints of negative consequences than Australians.

Over one-third of Kiwis more than 14 years old own smartphones compared to more than half of Australians. Despite having less smartphones, 25 per cent of Kiwis were more likely to use their devices to monitor their bank accounts.

The survey also revealed that Kiwis were likely to browse the Web more frequently than Australians and check their emails, stream videos, read news and download music.

Despite 61 per cent of Kiwis having online privacy concerns, smartphone use browsing and banking remained high. In Australia, 67.1 per cent of respondents said they were concerned about online privacy.

Australians beat Kiwis in using social media with their smartphones. Pip Elliot, general manager of Roy Morgan Research NZ, said this trend may change with the availability of new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C in the coming weeks. Mr Elliot said it would be interesting to see if New Zealanders will be buying Apple Inc's latest iPhone versions.

When it comes to online spending, New Zealanders spend more online than Australians. About 47.5 per cent of Kiwis over 14 years of age buy something online in a month compared to 35.4 per cent of Australians.