Tech – Not all experiences equal when it comes to the Internet

Most of us are online, a lot – but not all of us are having the same experience, new research from InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa shows.

Internet Insights is an annual survey commissioned by InternetNZ that acts as a pulse check on Aotearoa New Zealand’s Internet use and community.

The 2025 survey showed Māori, Pacific peoples and people with disabilities have different perceptions of and experiences of online life.

Respondents with a disability or an impairment were significantly more likely to have experienced online harm or harassment – 27 percent compared to the average of 15 percent. Māori were also more likely than average to have experienced online harm or harassment, at 20 percent.

Pacific peoples answering the survey were significantly more concerned than other ethnicities about online harm issues, including cyberbullying, the Internet being used to share dangerous or discriminatory messages and as a forum for hate speech.

InternetNZ chief executive Vivien Maidaborn said whether it’s online or offline, people’s experiences of the online world vary hugely.

“This is just a snapshot of Internet experiences in Aotearoa, but it very likely reflects the lived experiences of Māori, Pacific peoples and people with a disability. The Internet often mirrors society, which unfortunately means discrimination is as present online as it is offline.”

Pacific peoples and people with disabilities were also more likely to hold concerns about limited Internet access for those in low socio-economic groups, the cost of the Internet and access in remote areas.

“This concern bears out in other data too,” says Maidaborn. “We know around 400,000 households lack meaningful digital access, and the barrier is often the cost of devices and connections. There’s still quite significant digital inequity in this country, despite the ever-growing influence the digital world has on our lives.”

Forty-four percent of those surveyed felt they had some awareness and understanding of the digital divide. One in four New Zealanders believe that central government should have primary responsibility for ensuring everyone in Aotearoa can participate fully online, though one in five believe it’s a shared responsibility between government and community.

“Our vision at InternetNZ is for an Internet that benefits all New Zealanders. This report shows again that we still have some way to go and that it will take multiple stakeholders across government and community to achieve this.”

• 15 percent say they have experienced online harm or harassment – New Zealanders with a disability or impairment (27 percent compared to the average of 15 percent) and Māori (20 percent) are more likely to have experienced online harm or harassment.
• Māori (64%) and Pacific peoples (80%) are extremely or very concerned about the Internet being used to share dangerous or discriminatory messaging. The average across all ethnicities was 61 percent.
• 44 percent of respondents had some awareness and understanding of the digital divide. The perceived barriers to digital participation were primarily the cost of Internet connections and data, and the costs of devices.
• One in four New Zealanders believes the central government should have primary responsibility for ensuring everyone in Aotearoa can participate fully online. One in five say it’s a shared responsibility across multiple groups.
• 21 percent are not confident they could get support for a digital task.

Additional data about the digital divide can be found on the Digital Equity Coalition Aotearoa website. InternetNZ is proud to be a member of the coalition.

Internet Insights is an annual research report commissioned by InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa. The 2025 research was carried out by Verian, with interviews conducted between November 25 and December 8, 2025.

The sample size was 1003 and consisted of New Zealanders over the age of 18 sourced using online consumer panels. Results have a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.

The research covers a range of topics, including Internet use, social media use, and Internet-related concerns.

Previous research reports can be found on the InternetNZ website.

InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa is the home and guardian of the .nz domain. We’re not government-funded – we’re an independent, not-for-profit organisation that operates .nz for the benefit of all New Zealanders, reinvesting domain revenue back into the community. We provide grants, help to fund other organisations, and advocate for an accessible and safe Internet that benefits everyone in Aotearoa.