Kiwi shoppers will spend more during the holiday season, suggesting a shift of priorities and shopping behaviour around Christmas.

Research by AMP Capital, which manages several of the nation’s major shopping centres, found that 95 per cent of Kiwis plan to go to their local mall during the Christmas season to get an item they want directly, rather than buy it online. The research also predicts that shoppers will spend more on food & beverage and for celebrations this holiday season. 

More than 20 per cent of respondents plan to spend more on food and beverage than usual while 62 per cent plan to spend the same as last year. While only about 12 per cent of respondents said they plan to spend more than usual on Christmas experiences and celebrations, gifts, clothes and decorations, more than half plan to spend the same amount. 

“The survey has told us most people expect to visit their local shopping centre, but the way they plan to shop will be different,” said Emma Smith, divisional property manager of AMP Capital NZ. 

“Though it is very recent news so wasn’t included in the survey, we know a lot of shoppers are excited about the Google Street View tool which can now be used internally in our shopping centres, so they can organise their visit before they arrive.”