National Reading Survey

How are we reading in Aotearoa New Zealand?

Since 2016, our regular reading research (now called the National Reading Survey) has asked that question. We commissioned Horizon Research to compile research reports from a representative group of New Zealanders.

The latest research was conducted in 2025. It aims to benchmark a proportion of previous National Reading Survey data, while adding focus on incentives and attitudes to reading and social aspects of book culture.

It shows a slight increase in the number of adults who have read a book in the last year: 87%, equivalent to around 3,359,000 New Zealand adults. This is a slight rise from 85% in 2021, with the data since 2017 remaining relatively steady overall, and counteracting international narratives of reading rates in decline.

Another significant finding is that 84% of males had read a book in the past year, up from 79% in 2021.

The outlier segment of the research, with a drop from 87% having read a book in the past year to 82%, is the 18-24 year old demographic. This is an interesting shift as in the previous survey, more of this age group were reading than people aged between 25 and 44.

The survey also tells us that those under 35 are more likely to engage with e-books and audiobooks than any other age. They are significantly more likely to gain recommendations for books on Instagram or BookTok, or to discuss books on social media.

39% of 18-24 year olds told us they ‘don’t like reading’ - suggesting further research in methods of reading engagement for this age group may be useful.

The National Reading Survey also indicates an uptake of reading in non-traditional formats across many age groups, with 43% of respondents indicating they read audiobooks.

32% (1,253,000 adult New Zealanders) have read a poetry book all or part way through in the past 12 months, a significant increase from 25% in 2021. 39% of under 35s read poetry.

The National Reading Survey is a marker of the ways in which our reading culture is shifting, and highlights the importance of research like this: to understand not only what people are reading, but how books are perceived in Aotearoa.