World Cup, Jami-Lee Ross, royal wedding: New Zealand's top trending Google searches 2018

14/12/2018
Jamie Ensor

In 2018 Kiwis were storm-watchers, royal family fanatics, vege munchers and engrossed by the Thai cave rescue.

Google's 2018 New Zealand Year in Search reveals that despite becoming only the second Prime Minister to give birth while in office, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wasn't the top-trending Kiwi of the year - with late comedian and prankster Johnny Danger taking that honour.

Also on that list is former National MP Jami-Lee Ross, the starring figure in the most explosive political scandal of the year, Dancing with the Stars contestant Suzy Cato and the Prime Minister's partner, Clarke Gayford.

The lists are "based on search terms that had the highest spike this year as compared to the previous year", according to Google - not necessarily the most-googled terms. This makes it perhaps surprising Ms Ardern was on the list at all, considering she topped the list in 2017.

The overall top trending search in New Zealand was 'World Cup', with the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia in June and July. Video game Fortnite also took a spot on that list.

The country also caught baby fever this year, with 'Jacinda Ardern baby' and 'royal baby name' appearing in the top 10 news events. Topping that list was 'Census NZ', which all Kiwis needed to complete back in March, followed by Cyclone Gita and the royal wedding.

Demi Lovato nudged out Khloe Kardashian as the top-trending global figure. Queen frontman Freddie Mercury also made an appearance on the list, likely fuelled by interest in the film about his life Bohemian Rhapsody.

There were several high-profile deaths in 2018, with musicians Mac Miller, Avicii and Aretha Franklin heavily searched for. Former Kiwi broadcaster and journalist Greg Boyed featured at number two on that list.

'How to delete Instagram accounts' was the top-trending 'How to...' followed by 'How to screenshot on Mac' and 'How to take a screenshot'.

The cryptocurrency market received some attention with 'What is Bitcoin' taking out the top 'What is...'. Others on that list include 'What is 1080' and 'What is the time'.

The keto diet was also a popular search term, while Kiwis cooked a lot of chicken breasts in 2018, according to the top-trending recipes.

Overall

World Cup
Stuff news NZ
Commonwealth Games
Census NZ
Cyclone Gita
Fortnite
Johnny Danger
Mac Miller
Lotto result NZ
All Blacks vs France

News events

Census NZ
Cyclone Gita
Royal Wedding
Thai cave rescue
Jacinda Ardern baby
Hurricane Florence
Hawaii Volcano
Cyclone Hola
Royal baby name
California fires

Global Figures

Demi Lovato
Khloe Kardashian
Logan Paul
Freddie Mercury
Olivia Newton-John
Anthony Joshua
Ed Sheeran
Sylvester Stallone
Hailey Baldwin
Tiger Woods

Kiwis

Johnny Danger
Jacinda Ardern
Stan Walker
Jami Lee Ross
Simon Bridges
Sophie Pascoe
Suzy Cato
Clarke Gayford
Eliza McCartney
Laurel Hubbard

Loss

Mac Miller
Greg Boyed
Avicii
Anthony Bourdain
Stephen Hawking
Stan Lee
Aretha Franklin
Kate Spade
Burt Reynolds
Tania Ellwood

How to...?

How to delete Instagram accounts
How to screenshot on mac
How to take a screenshot
How to lose weight fast
How to draw a rose
How to cut a mango
How to make self-raising flour
How to lose belly fat
How to screenshot on Samsung
How to cook rice

What is…?

What is Bitcoin
What is Mycoplasma Bovis
What is my IP address
What is Diwali
What is Matariki
What is 1080
What is Black Friday 2018 NZ
What is the time
What is intersex
What is open on Good Friday

Recipes

Vegan recipes
Keto recipes
Chicken breast recipes
Vegetarian recipes
Fettuccine recipes
Biscuit recipes
Zucchini recipes
Salad recipes
Cake recipes
Pumpkin recipes

Diet

Keto diet NZ
CSIRO diet
123 diet
Mediterranean diet
Ketogenic diet
Fodmap diet
Low carb diet
Phatt diet
Dash diet
Anti-inflammatory diet

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