The assassinated political commentator Charlie Kirk was the top-trending search in 2025 among Kiwis on Google.
As 2025 draws to a close, the global web-browsing giant has revealed the most common searches among Kiwis this year.
A spokesperson said Kiwi' search habits painted a "picture of a population that is pragmatic, hyper-vigilant and digitally aware".
The top three most searched topics by New Zealanders this year were Charlie Kirk – the conservative commentator murdered at an event in Utah in September. This was followed treatments for chronic obstructive lung disease and osteoarthritis.
There was also plenty of interest in Marokopa fugitive father Tom Phillips; the All Blacks; the death of metal legend Ozzy Osbourne; Cyclone Alfred, which hit Australia; Iran; serial killer Ed Gein; and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Google said it identified a series of themes that defined Kiwis' search habits in 2025.
The first was using Google as a real-time safety tool to check for weather warnings. Wind, rainfall, and tsunami warnings dominated search trends.
"Our desire for information about immediate weather hazards has never been more pronounced," Google said.
Google also highlighted a shift towards civic engagement in politics, not just observing it through the news.
"How to make a submission to the Treaty Principles Bill" and the names of politicians such as Brooke van Velden were commonly searched.
The cost of living also affected people's searches. Kiwis frequently searched for how to make butter, buttermilk, sourdough starter, bread, and soft-boiled eggs.
People also searched for financial topics such as the "revenge saving" trend, how to calculate a tax refund, and how to invest in shares.
Culturally, Kiwis were hooked on global trends, with people looking up how to make things like the viral Dubai chocolate, pistachio cream, and matcha latte. K-pop Demon Hunters and Labubus dominated our pop culture trends.
Google's top trending lists for 2025:
Overall searches
- Charlie Kirk
- COPD treatment
- Osteoporosis treatment
- Tom Phillips
- All Blacks vs France
- Ozzy Osbourne
- Cyclone Alfred
- Iran
- Ed Gein
- Club World Cup.
New Zealanders
- Joseph Parker
- Benjamin Doyle
- Lorde
- Liam Lawson
- Daniel Hillier
- Kai Kara France
- David Nyika
- Brooke Van Velden
- Chris Wood
- Stuart Nash.
Deaths
- Charlie Kirk
- Tom Phillips
- Michelle Trachtenberg
- Gene Hackman
- Hulk Hogan
- Diane Keaton
- Val Kilmer
- David Lynch
- Robert Redford
- Jane Goodall.
People
- Belle Gibson
- D4vd
- Diogo Jota
- Pope
- Andy Byron
- Luke Combs
- Jimmy Kimmel
- Tyler Robinson
- Kendrick Lamar
- Prince Andrew.
Local events
- Wind warning
- Rainfall warning
- Tsunami warning
- Thunderstorm warning
- Cyclone Tam
- Treaty Principles Bill submission
- Metallica Auckland
- Tongariro fire
- Measles
- Sail GP Auckland.
Global moments
- Cyclone Alfred
- Iran
- Day of the Dead
- LA fires
- Labubu
- Russia earthquake
- KPop Demon Hunters
- Bianca Censori Grammys
- 67
- Air India Crash.
How to…
- Make butter
- Invest money in shares
- Make buttermilk
- Get rid of bed bugs
- Screenshot on Macbook
- Watch All Blacks vs France
- Soft boil an egg
- Ssay Happy Matariki in te reo Maori
- Clear cache on Chrome
- Calculate a tax refund.
How to make…
- A submission on the treaty principles bill
- Pistachio cream
- Matcha
- Sourdough starter
- Bread
- A YouTube channel
- Apple crumble
- Hard boiled eggs
- Green
- Dubai chocolate
- Hair grow faster.
Definitions
- Plancha
- Taki
- Parens
- Loris
- Hubris
- Atria
- Ziti
- Ouroboros
- Orgo
- Seitan.
Internet trends/memes
- Viral ice cream
- Action figure trend
- Mango ice cream
- Barbie AI trend
- Revenge saving financial trend
- Peach ice cream
- What is the 6 7 trend
- Squishy toy trend
- Polaroid trend
- Starter pack trend.
Recipes: Savoury
- Spotted dick
- Pink salt trick
- Enchiladas
- Potato gratin
- Chicken breast
- Whitebait fritter
- Beef Wellington
- Egg salad
- Shepherd’s pie
- Focaccia bread.
Recipes: Sweet
- Hot cross bun
- Dubai chocolate
- Overnight oats
- Anzac biscuit
- Basque cheesecake
- Moist banana cake
- Scones
- Hot honey
- Snickerdoodle
- Biscoff cheesecake.
Outfits/Costumes
- Oktoberfest
- Disco
- Airport
- Cowgirl
- Cowboy
- Baby Easter
- Maid
- Prisoner
- Day at the races
- Rumi.
How to style
- Curtain bangs
- A bed
- Brown pants
- Adidas Japan shoes high top
- Short hair
- Polo shirt and jeans women smart casual
- A wavy quiff
- A messy fringe
- Aa bandana men
- A line skirt.
Series
- Adolescence
- Severance
- Squid Game
- The Summer I Turned Pretty
- White Lotus
- Mobland
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Dept Q
- American Primeval
- Landman.
Films
- Minecraft
- Superman
- Happy Gilmore 2
- Nosferatu
- Sinners
- How To Train Your Dragon
- 28 Years Later
- Weapons
- Anora
- Thunderbolts.
Sports
- All Blacks vs France
- Club World Cup
- India vs England
- Auckland FC
- India vs Australia
- Champions Trophy
- New Zealand vs Pakistan
- Super Rugby Fantasy
- All Blacks vs Australia
- New Zealand vs West Indies.
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