Report: Audio Tops Media Consumption in New Zealand

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, June 26, 2025 | 4:28pm CT

Edison Research

Audio now leads all media consumption in New Zealand, according to the newly released Infinite Dial New Zealand 2025 report from Edison Research. The study, unveiled at the Audio Summit 2025, reveals that 94% of New Zealanders aged 16 and older listen to some form of audio each week -- surpassing television/video (92%) and social media (74%) usage.

Sponsored by The Radio Bureau, MediaWorks, New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME), and the Radio Broadcasters Association, this third edition of the study offers a deep dive into Kiwi listening habits and allows for direct comparisons with data from the U.S. and Australia.

Key findings from the national survey include:

• Radio remains resilient, with 68% of New Zealanders listening weekly -- higher than the comparable U.S. figure.

• Streamed audio reaches 76% of the 16 population each week.

• Podcasting is on the rise, with 55% of New Zealanders having listened to a podcast in the past month, and 36% in the last week.

• Among those aged 16-34, 90% consumed streamed audio and 71% listened to a podcast in the last month.

In the car, AM/FM radio continues to dominate, with 72% of in-car listeners using it, outpacing other formats such as podcasts, CDs, and online audio platforms. The research also found that despite increased availability of connected car technologies like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, traditional radio remains the most used in-vehicle audio source.

Edison Research President Larry Rosin highlighted the enduring strength of traditional audio: "It is clear that audio is a powerhouse when it comes to reaching consumers, and radio remains resilient, fueled by in-car consumption and catch-up radio podcasts."

Alistair Jamison, CEO of The Radio Bureau New Zealand, added, "It provides fantastic insight into the NZ audio market and demonstrates the massive opportunity for advertisers who are planning holistically across radio and digital audio."

The Infinite Dial New Zealand 2025 is based on a national survey of 1,007 New Zealanders aged 16 , conducted via online and telephone interviews and weighted to reflect the national population. The full report is available at edisonresearch.com.