Kiwis' Top Google Searches For 2010

MEDIA RELEASE 9 December 2010

Kiwis' Top Google Searches For 2010 Reveal Controversial Figures Paul Henry And Allan Hubbard Rank Alongside Mining Disaster And Christchurch Earthquake

Google has released the most searched-for terms by New Zealanders during 2010, revealing that controversies ranked high alongside earthquakes and natural disasters.

The Christchurch earthquake and Pike River mining disaster beat other current affairs in the top ten fastest rising news searches, while other current affairs searches included 'Chile', 'Commonwealth Games', 'Oil Spill' and 'Hobbit'.

The top ten most searched-for New Zealanders courted controversy in 2010, with Allan Hubbard, Director of South Canterbury Finance, former Labour MP Chris Carter and Paul Henry, who recently resigned as the host of TV ONE Breakfast.

Henry made the most impact, appearing in multiple lists including the fastest rising news category, as well as appearing in the top ten fastest rising New Zealanders list. Ironically, Sheila Dikshit - the subject of Henry's much-publicised gaffe - also appeared in a list of fastest rising people searched for by New Zealanders.

Film and entertainment saw the award-winning New Zealand film Boy come in third in the fastest rising movie searches behind big-budget thriller Inception and Sci-Fi action flick, Resident Evil - Afterlife.

A credible third in the list of overall most popular web searches behind heavy-hitters Facebook and YouTube was New Zealand's auction website Trade Me. Grab One, a website notorious for its good deals, was the fastest rising web search in New Zealand proving we're heading online to save our hard-earned money.

When it comes to comparing 2010's results with those of 2009, there have been some consistencies.

Trade Me cemented its place as a cyberspace favourite remaining in third position on the list of most popular web searches while Maori festival Matariki dropped three places to seventh in the 'what is' category.

Among our sporting heroes, the All Whites' success in South Africa won them a spot on the list of the fastest rising news searches, only to be beaten by the All Blacks in the 'hot tickets' stakes.

Enjoy reading and analysing the results below - visit www.google.com/zeitgeist to see international top searches and to put together your own lists.

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