Web Week

Maori trends

Internet use and website visitation habits among Maori do not differ much from national trends. More than 72 per cent of Maori have internet access, up 11 per cent from the previous year, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. The ratings agency says that is only slightly behind the national average of 80 per cent. Xtramsn's site was tops with Maori users, as it was with non-Maori. Thus, the question remains: Is the Xtramsn site getting top ratings simply because subscribers haven't changed their home page?

Rugby taking off

The Super 12 rugby site (http://www.virtualsuper12.co.nz)  was popular last week, but not just among Maori, said Nielsen/NetRatings. As the season is heating up, so is interest. The ratings agency does note that Maori internet use in general leans more toward entertainment. They are more likely to be downloading music, playing games, watching television - or researching education. Some of the more popular sites among Maori were music site www.amplifier.co.nz, radio station www.georgefm.co.nz and online retailer www.smokecds.com.

Banks popular

Bank sites were also popular with Maori, with Westpac beating out ASB by about 2000 users.