NZers buy more Christmas presents, but spend less

New Zealanders are more likely than people in other countries to buy presents for other people this Christmas - but don't expect a new car in your Christmas stocking.

For the second year running, a survey of spending habits in 12 countries has shown more New Zealanders give presents at Christmas, even if they spread the love a little more thinly.

In AXA's Retirement Scope Survey of 615 New Zealanders, 94 per cent of workers and 85 per cent of retirees said they would give presents for Christmas - beating the US by a nose, which had 91 per cent and 85 per cent respectively.

AXA chief executive Ralph Stewart said the research showed New Zealanders were strong in spirit, but "sensible in silly season spending".

"We are constantly bombarded to spend, so it's encouraging to see we're resisting that to some degree, compared to other parts of the world."

Just under two-thirds of those surveyed had said they would spend the same as last year, and about 20 per cent expected to spend less.

However, New Zealanders in this survey intended to spend more on average than those surveyed last year, when workers said they would spend $580 on presents, and retirees $290.

The survey does not take into account different standards of living.

A breakdown of whom they would buy presents for revealed only about half of New Zealanders would buy presents for their friends.

When it came to buttering up the boss, New Zealanders were far less accomplished - only 30 per cent of workers said they would buy presents for bosses or work colleagues, compared with 47 per cent in the US.

Worldwide, items such as books, DVDs, compact discs, and movie tickets were most popular presents.

Splashing out:

Average Christmas spending of workers:

* US: $1850

* Britain: $1480

* Australia: $910

* New Zealand: $750

* Japan: $220