A survey conducted by Auckland University has revealed that the total number of internet users in New Zealand is increasing.

However one in every six user is still not availing the facility. Survey Coordinator, Nigel Smith claimed that this is ratio is lesser than most countries overseas.

Smith said, "It's not surprising in that we know that there's a small proportion of people that don't have telephones at all and there's a large proportion of them that don't have the internet. The survey results show about two thirds of those that don't have the internet don't see it as useful".

It showed that 83% of the 1,250 participants of the survey were using the internet at the end of 2009. This has increased by 4% when it was 79% in 2007.

It was also revealed that broadband users have increased while number using dial-up connections have gone down considerably. The change, according to Smith, can be credited to the increase in number of entertainment websites that require higher bandwidth.

The survey shows that internet is gaining importance in people's daily lives and also draws attention to free and unrestricted use of the internet in New Zealand.