Snapchat hits 1.5 million users milestone in New Zealand

Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat, has announced that its visual messaging platform now surpasses 1.5 million monthly active users in New Zealand.

This milestone highlights Snapchat's increasing footprint in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and its resonance with New Zealand's digitally adept population.

Snapchat has achieved significant penetration among younger audiences in New Zealand. According to Snap Inc., the platform reaches nearly 95% of Kiwis aged 13-24 and 75% of those aged 13-34.

The company also notes that more than half of its users in New Zealand are over the age of 25, indicating broad appeal beyond the Gen Z demographic.

Kiwi Snapchat users are engaging with the app extensively, opening it over 35 times per day on average to communicate with friends and family, stay informed about world events, and consume or create content. Furthermore, more than 55% of New Zealanders using Snapchat interact daily with the platform’s augmented reality (AR) lenses, which facilitate creative self-expression and brand interactions.

Ajit Mohan, APAC President for Snap Inc., expressed optimism about the company’s prospects in New Zealand.

"With more than 1.5 million Kiwis on Snapchat, we’re continuing to see significant momentum in New Zealand and our local community has never been stronger. We see incredible potential for Kiwi brands to build deeper engagement with hard-to-reach local and global audiences on Snapchat, and couldn't be more excited about our future in New Zealand," Mohan stated.

Snap Inc. has positioned Snapchat as a platform for real-time, authentic communication, differentiating it from traditional social media services. The focus remains on genuine interactions among close-knit groups rather than fostering a broad public presence.

This strategy caters well to the younger demographic that values privacy and intimate connections.

The significant interaction with AR lenses among New Zealand users suggests that Snapchat's technological innovations are well received. The platform acts as a canvas for users to engage in creative expression, fun, and even commercial interactions, providing a multifaceted user experience that extends beyond simple messaging.

The milestone of reaching over 1.5 million monthly active users in New Zealand underscores Snapchat's growing influence and highlights the app's widespread adoption in a key APAC market.

As Snapchat continues to evolve and feature new technologies, the potential for both user growth and deeper brand engagement looks promising.