New Zealand fifth most vegan country in the world

Ōtautahi - A new study has analysed google trends data and found New Zealand ranks in the top five countries in the world for being vegan.

The study looked at the frequency of vegan-related search terms across all languages to determine where veganism is most popular.

New Zealand was outranked only by the UK, Australia, Israel, and Austria. Despite the fact that the New Zealand economy is driven by animal agriculture, the number of people choosing meat-free diets has risen 15 percent in the last year.

In 2018, New Zealand actually ranked higher, coming in third place. However, interest in veganism is still increasing in the country but its fall to fifth place is due to a sharp rise in vegan-related searches in Israel and Austria.

Previously, Auckland and Christchurch were the New Zealand cities best known for veganism. While plant-based diets are still popular in these cities, they are also on the rise in Dunedin, Wellington, and Nelson. Vegan food is now twice as popular in New Zealand as it was five years ago.

In consequence, the number of vegan options available in New Zealand is also rising, with new restaurants opening and even large chains like Burger King offering vegan alternatives. Many New Zealand companies are also producing innovative new vegan products such as plant meat from hemp protein.

Reducing consumption of animal products is good for people, good for the environment, and really good for the animals,” the Vegan Society NZ says.

A quick look at current veganism statistics in Aotearoa reveals why:

• 4000 animals were saved by 500 plus Kiwis opting to go meat-free for a month

• there was a 19 percent growth in Kiwis adopting a plant-based diet over the last two years

• New Zealand is ranked 4th as the top vegan country to live and visit

• the New Zealand government has pledged NZ $20 million to develop high-quality protein gels and powders

• the country is a haven for vegans and vegetarians, with more and more people choosing a plant-based diet for environmental, ethical and health concerns

Based on veganism statistics New Zealand, this is arguably one of the most vegan-friendly countries in the world.

New Zealand is a progressive country in terms of its stewardship of its natural environment. The country’s natural beauty and outdoor life are one of its top tourist attractions. Not only does New Zealand take care of its lands, forests and mountains but there are many marine parks and reserves where fishing is either off-limits or heavily regulated.

New Zealand vegan statistics show that the trend toward a plant-based diet is growing exponentially, with more and more restaurants opening. Even the large chain Burger King now offers vegan burgers. Christchurch and Auckland offer the most options with Nelson, Wellington and Dunedin following closely.