How New Zealanders Spent Their Easter

27 March 2008

How New Zealanders Spent Their Easter

Latest figures from Paymark show electronic spending was up 9.9% in terms of value (dollars spent) this Easter compared with Easter 2007 figures as Kiwis made use of the great weather and the long weekend.

It was rural areas that showed the greatest annual growth – including Taranaki, West Coast, Otago and Southland – all experiencing year-on-year Easter increases of over 13 percent in terms of value (dollars spent).

For those who remained at home, DIY seemed to feature highly in the weekend’s activities. Figures show value of sales at garden centres was up 48% at Easter versus an average February day, while spending on personal and hire equipment was up 68% against the same.

As is the case every Easter, with most stores effectively being closed on Easter Friday and Sunday, general spending was down against a normal Thursday to Monday period. The average spend per day during Easter weekend through Paymark’s network was down 16 million, or 14%, compared with an average day in February 2008.

Data suggests people chose to travel outside of the major centres or to special events such as the Warbirds over Wanaka International Airshow in Otago.

Spending on budget accommodation (including hostels, and camping grounds) was up 24% in value, motels were up 10% and hotels up 5%. Local dairies also did a good trade in the absence of supermarket trading, with an 8% increase per day by comparison to an average day in February.

Simon Tong, Paymark CEO, says; “Per capita, Kiwis are the biggest users of Eftpos cards in the world, and Good Friday and Easter Monday are two of the very few dates on our calendar when most shops are closed.

“Paymark data shows that New Zealanders did use more petrol this Easter than during a normal week, though only marginally. It seems that when the option of going to the mall or supermarket was removed, we chose to use our spare time getting into the garden, going camping and eating out during the Easter break.”

The Paymark system processes three quarters of all electronic transactions and nearly 90% of Kiwis have a debit card. That puts New Zealand ahead of any other country in the world in terms of EFTPOS use.

ENDS