Uber has launched its first Movement Index for New Zealand, revealing the changes to travel patterns and food habits across the country as the nation continues with its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Index, which shows the changing patterns of demand across mobility and delivery in January 2021, compared to the activity of January and April last year, highlights how New Zealand’s cities are recovering following national and regional lockdowns in 2020.

From supporting local tourism to new delivery habits that have stuck beyond lockdown, the Index shows how far Aotearoa has come, with a return to ‘normalcy’ across many aspects of our lives. 

Key findings include:

  • International travel restrictions have not stopped Kiwis from exploring their own backyards, with cities such as Tauranga and Queenstown seeing a 1.3x YoY increase in demand from locals moving around 
  • Uber data indicates Kiwi transport habits have bounced back to pre-COVID patterns, with the pattern of demand on Friday and Saturday nights mirroring this time last year. 
  • Whether it’s flexible working during the week or a night on the town, Kiwis are exercising their freedoms post-lockdown 
  • During the summer holidays, New Zealanders celebrated saying goodbye to the year that was, while continuing to prioritise safety by opting for rideshare throughout the ‘silly season’ 
  • Expansion into regional cities across Aotearoa has been met with  impressive uptake from locals enjoying the convenience of Uber Eats, with cities like Hastings seeing 3x growth since July 2020 

The Index is the first report where Uber has released data of this kind, and shows the changing patterns of demand across mobility and delivery in January 2021, compared to January and April of last year. 

Key findings, analysis and commentary from Uber spokespeople along with a full Movement Index Report can be found here.