As Mercury heads into retrograde for the first time this year, which astrologists say can increase forgetfulness, Kiwis across the nation may start to feel the effects. But frazzled Kiwis can find solace in the seventh annual Lost & Found Index, which shows that, no matter how crazy things in orbit may seem, there’s always something crazier to be found in the back of an Uber ride!

If you’re experiencing any out-of-the-ordinary behaviour from Mercury in retrograde, it turns out you’re not the only one, with thousands of Kiwis losing their marbles (literally) and forgetting to take their increasingly wacky items with them as they leave their rides.

From false teeth to a chainsaw, a cat flap door to a tattoo set, it appears Kiwis’ memories really took a backseat this past year. One rider even lost a chicken, chocolates, and five medals in a single trip. So, let’s take a deep dive into some of the unusual items in the Uber lost and found box this year.

“I’d forget my head if it wasn’t screwed on!” Kiwis are always good at remembering to bring their snags to the barbie, or togs to the beach, but not so good when it comes to remembering their most prized possessions. Cricket bats, chilly bins, fishing rods, fish, and (potentially winning) lotto tickets have all been found on Uber trips this past year.

Kiwis claim to be die-hard sports fans, but they are quick to lose sight of their sporting merch. Signed Warriors jersey, All Blacks scarves, and cricket caps were all left behind items. One rider even left behind a game day ticket. 

For a small country, New Zealand certainly knows how to punch above its weight. The same can be said about the size of the items Kiwis lose. Chainsaws, electric scooters, walking sticks, and longboards were all left behind on an Uber trip.

It’s clear Kiwis are also feeling the pressure of soaring food prices with requests for drivers to return bottles of olive oil, butter, milk, soy sauce, a full bag of cheese, cake, and lemons. 

Unsurprisingly, it all turns to custard for New Zealanders when they head out for their weekends, with 4am being the most forgetful time, and Saturdays being the most forgetful day for Kiwis. Alcohol, vapes, cash and wallets were the most commonly forgotten items at this time.

New Plymouth reigns as the Most Organised Region, while laid back Tauranga forgets everything but the kitchen sink

New Plymouth deserves a medal this year as Uber data confirmed it is the most organised region in New Zealand, leaving behind the least amount of items. Tauranga, on the other hand, may be too laid back for their own good and was crowned the most forgetful city this year.

The hangover effect from April Fools’ Day was strongly felt last year, with April 2nd being the most forgetful day for Aussies – I guess the joke was on us!

Hoa Nguyen, Head of Rider Operations at Uber ANZ, commented: “Uber’s annual Lost & Found Index is back for its seventh year, and it’s more bizarre than ever. From a chainsaw to a cat flap door, Kiwis have really outdone themselves when it comes to forgetfulness this year! The important thing to remember is that we do have a process if you suddenly realise you’ve left your phone, wallet, or chainsaw in the driver partner’s car – head to the app for help and follow the prompts to retrieve your items.”

Check out the full lists below – and most importantly, instructions for how you can retrieve your lost items.

Top weird and wacky items (some iconically Kiwi) 

  • Chainsaw 
  • False teeth  
  • Lotto tickets
  • Cricket bat 
  • Chilly bin 
  • Jandal
  • Fishing rod
  • Fish 
  • Tattoo set
  • Cat flap door 
  • A chicken, chocolate, and five medals in a single trip 

How to retrieve lost items:

Look no further than this help page, which outlines the simple steps you can take the next time you leave something behind during your Uber ride. 

The best way to retrieve a lost item is to call the driver-partner via the app – but if you leave your phone itself in the Uber ride, you can login to your account on a computer. Here’s what to do:

  1. Tap “Your Trips” and select the trip where you left something
  2. Scroll down and tap “Find lost item”
  3. Tap “Contact driver about a lost item”
  4. Scroll down and enter the phone number you would like to be contacted at. Tap submit.
  5. If you lost your personal phone, enter a friend’s phone number instead (you can do this by logging into your account on a computer, or using a friend’s phone).
  6. Your phone will ring and connect you directly with your driver’s mobile number.
  7. If your driver picks up and confirms that your item has been found, coordinate a mutually convenient time and place to meet for its return to you. 

If you’re unable to find a convenient time to meet the driver-partner, consider using Uber Package to retrieve the item. Uber’s same day delivery service, Uber Package is available through the Uber app to send and receive packages and parcels. It offers a convenient solution when you need items in a hurry. You can learn more about this here.