New Zealand top Google Searches for 2025 are in #26

About this episode

The 2025 Google Year in Search data for New Zealand paints a portrait of a nation balancing high-stakes global awareness with a grounded, pragmatic focus on home life. The year’s trending results suggest that New Zealanders have transitioned from being passive observers of news to active, hyper-vigilant participants in their own safety and civic duties.

Dominating the overall trending list was the shocking assassination of an American Political commentator, an event that resonated deeply enough to bypass typical local interests. This global curiosity was mirrored by a surge in searches for health solutions, specifically treatments for COPD and osteoporosis, as Kiwis increasingly used the platform to manage personal wellbeing. In the realm of public figures, heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker reclaimed the spotlight as the most-searched New Zealander, leading a list of sports-heavy talent that included F1’s Liam Lawson and musician Lorde.

A defining shift this year was the rise of the "digital safety tool" phenomenon. Rather than seeking general news, New Zealanders used Google for immediate situational awareness, with "Wind Warning," "Rainfall Warning," and "Tsunami Warning" topping the local moments category. This vigilance extended to the political sphere; one of the year’s most significant "How To" queries was "How to make a submission to the Treaty Principles Bill," signaling a landmark year for direct civic engagement in Aotearoa.

The economic climate of 2025 also left a clear mark on the nation's search bar. High living costs fueled a "DIY economy," with Kiwis desperately searching for how to make basic staples like butter, buttermilk, and bread from scratch. This financial pragmatism was balanced by a lighter, digitally-driven culture, as viral trends like "Dubai Chocolate," "Labubu" squishy toys, and the mysterious "6 7 trend" kept the nation scrolling through a year that was as much about survival and safety as it was about the latest internet obsession.n practical, home-based skills and local community milestones.

Also on today's episode of the Crystal Carrier Wave I talk about the scraping of Spotify's music library, then we shift our focus to the hardware and infrastructure that keeps our world connected. It’s been a particularly tough week for the physical side of tech, as many hardware companies struggle with a shift in investor interest toward software and AI, leaving traditional manufacturers in a bit of a tight spot. But while the industry recalibrates, we’re seeing some exciting shifts in the console world. Rumors are circulating that Microsoft’s next Xbox might actually run a full version of Windows and—perhaps most importantly for your wallet—could finally drop those pesky multiplayer subscription fees.

On the personal tech front, Amazon is finally bringing a proper dark mode to its high-end Kindle Scribe and Colorsoft models, making those late-night reading sessions much easier on the eyes. If you prefer your tech in the kitchen, keep an eye out for Google Gemini, which is making its way into smart fridges to help with everything from recipe suggestions to tracking your expiration dates. However, even as these tools get smarter, security remains a cat-and-mouse game. OpenAI has recently warned that AI-integrated browsers might always have a "blind spot" for prompt injection attacks, and we’ve even seen fake WhatsApp API packages appearing on developer sites to steal personal data.

For the builders and tinkerers listening, the maker movement is as strong as ever. Whether you're interested in the "Maker DNA" discussed by founder Dale Dougherty or you're looking for a holiday project like Angus’s clever 3D-printed hidden compartment ornament, there is no shortage of inspiration. The ESP32 chip continues to be a favorite in the community, powering everything from a specialized guitar practice tool called "Tuitar" to a charming voice-controlled toy astronaut. Even the pros are pushing the limits, with Disney Imagineering showing off a new robotic Olaf that uses machine learning to mimic the "clumsy" movement of the movie character.

Finally, for our radio enthusiasts and broadcast pros, the landscape is literally shifting. High winds in Kansas recently knocked a heritage AM station off the air, reminding us just how fragile our physical broadcast infrastructure can be. Meanwhile, the Radio Society of Great Britain is looking for help to preserve our history through their Legacy Committee. As we look to the future of the airwaves, the silicon carbide market is also seeing a bit of a correction cycle, which will likely dictate how quickly we see new power and broadcast technologies reach the mainstream in 2026. Also, the NZART are getting set to celebrate with their Centenary 100 QSO Challenge.

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Google's NZ Year in Search

Microsoft’s Next Xbox Could Run Full Windows and Drop Multiplayer Fees, According to New Rumours

Spotify Takes Action After Its Music Was Reportedly Pirated

Someone just archived all of Spotify, and it's already on torrents

Dark Mode is coming to Amazon’s most expensive Kindle

A rough week for hardware companies

OpenAI says AI browsers may always be vulnerable to prompt injection attacks

Docker Hardened Images now open source and available for free

Italy fines Apple $116 million over App Store privacy policy issues

Fake WhatsApp API Package on npm Steals Messages, Contacts, and Login Tokens

Nearly all global data centers are overheating in the wrong climates, causing massive energy drains across multiple continents right now

Google Gemini is now heading to fridges — and it might actually be useful

What the Linux desktop really needs to challenge Windows

Watch: The Founder's Vision—Dale Dougherty on the DNA of the Maker Movement

Christmas Ornament Has Hidden Compartment, Clever Design

Introducing the latest Arduino App Lab updates and examples

Fret Not: This ESP32 Gadget Makes Guitar Practice a Breeze

One Giant Leap for Chatbot-kind

Disney Imagineering Reveals Robotic Olaf Character

Tata and Rohm to assemble and test power ICs in India

SiC’s correction cycle

High Winds Knock Heritage Kansas AM Station Off Air

Legacy Committee vacancy

NZART Centenary 100 QSO Challenge

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