Most-searched-for Christmas gifts

Trade Me has released its list of most-searched-for Christmas gifts. Photo / iStock

The drones are yet to take over, but they're gaining popularity on the list of most-searched-for Christmas gift items on Trade Me.

According to the internet trading site's annual list of top Christmas searches, released today, many Kiwis are dreaming of iPhones on the deck, the kids on the tramp and the significant other slaving over the barbecue - possibly while wielding a light saber.

The most-searched-for item in November was the smartphone, followed by outdoor furniture, trampolines, barbecues, Lego, PlayStation 4, kayaks, spa pools, Star Wars items and jet boats.

But moving up the ranks are drones, adult colouring books and the wearable activity tracker Fitbit.

"While our top 10 has solid Kiwi favourites these are definitely the 'it' gifts of 2015," Trade Me spokesman Logan Mudge said. "Last year selfie sticks were top of the pops but it looks like Kiwis are more interested in quiet colouring and hitting that 10,000 steps per day goal in the new year." But mostly, users searched for Christmas presents they could enjoy outside, he said.

"If the weather turns to custard, their bases are covered with PlayStation, Lego and Star Wars merchandise - including toys, DVDs and costumes - all proving very popular searches."

In Auckland, top 10 items varied slightly: golf gear and bikes made the grade, and iPads topped the list alongside iPhones.

This is the fifth year in a row the iPhone has reigned supreme nationwide, the devices getting hundreds of thousands of searches in November.

"Trade Me members have loved Apple products for years, but interestingly the iPhone 6s didn't crack the top 50 Christmas searches this year. The 5s and 6 models are the frontrunners right now," Mr Mudge said.

Favourites from last year now bumped out of the top 10 are anything Frozen, dogs and puppies, go-karts and Minecraft toys and clothing.

This year, top kids' gifts are Star Wars and Friends Lego, trampolines, battery-powered ride-on cars, swing sets, Disney Frozen costumes and dolls, Kinetic Sand, quadcopters and mini drones, wooden train tables, sand and water play tables and pop-up tents.

"December Lego sales have increased 175 per cent from 2008 to 2014, and we expect to see another jump this year," Mr Mudge said.

• In the Christmas lead-in last year, the high-tide mark for listings was on December 2, when Trade Me sellers started almost 530,000 listings.

• Trade Me expects December 2015 to beat those numbers, as many days in November already exceed them.

• In 2013 Trade Me's busiest day was December 8, when about 49,000 items sold.

• Last year was December 14, when just over 50,000 items sold.

Top searches, November 2015:

1. iPhones
2. Outdoor furniture
3. Trampolines
4. BBQs
5. Lego
6. PlayStation 4
7. Kayak
8. Spa pool
9. Star Wars
10. Jet boat

Top kids' searches, November 2015:

1. Lego - Star Wars and Friends
2. Trampolines
3. Battery-powered ride-on cars
4. Swing sets
5. Disney Frozen costumes and dolls
6. Kinetic Sand
7. Quadcopters/mini drones
8. Wooden train tables
9. Sand and water play tables
10. Pop-up tents