New Zealand’s total online retail spending has grown 8 per cent over the last year, according to data from Bank of New Zealand, having brought in just over $4.7 billion. 

Spending on local online stores grew 15 per cent year over year, while international sites fell 1 per cent. 

“At local online sites, September saw exceptionally strong year-on-year growth in the food and grocery, department stores and electrical/electronic categories,” BNZ said in a statement. 

“Spending in all 3 categories, at local sites, was up by more than 20 per cent on last September’s levels. Year-on-year growth in spending at local clothing and computer sites was more subdued, coming in at less than 5 per cent.”

Despite the slowed international sales online, the entertainment and media and department stores categories both saw double digit growth since last September, while spending at international computer store sites and electrical/electronic stores fell.