Speed, convenience and security is drawing New Zealand shoppers to online retailers

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Three out of five (59 percent) New Zealanders are now shopping online at least once a month, with security and the quality of goods purchased topping the list of considerations when using this channel, according to Mastercard research.

New research out today from Mastercard, which surveyed more than 1,000 New Zealanders about their online shopping and digital payment habits, found ensuring banking and personal details are secure (62 percent) and the products are good quality (61 percent), are front of mind when shopping online.

“As more New Zealanders enjoy the benefits of online shopping, it is great to see a heightened awareness around cyber security and that Kiwis are actively thinking about the ability of online retailers to protect their data,” says Ruth Riviere, Mastercard Country Manager for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Other important factors Kiwis are considering when shopping online include ensuring the business is legitimate (55 percent); that goods can be returned easily (37 percent); and products are delivered in a timely manner (29 percent).

As consumers look for safer ways to pay, Mastercard is advocating for a move towards a token-only storage of payment details and is actively supporting the new EMVCO secure Remote Commerce (SRC) framework. This framework proposes all technology and payment providers join together to give consumers the same simple, secure and convenient payment experience across every browser and device.

“Kiwis – and consumers the world over – want to know that their data is secure when they are making a transaction. As cyber criminals become more sophisticated, retailers and financial providers need to work together to ensure we stay one step ahead,” says Riviere.

“Mastercard believes that tokenization is critical when it comes to helping to secure the digital world. Tokenization will enable anyone taking a payment to protect sensitive data, such as credit card details, by replacing it with randomly generated substitute characters – ‘tokens’. These tokens have no intrinsic value, but they allow authorised users to retrieve the sensitive data when needed and render tokenized data useless if it is lost or stolen.

“In the US, research shows that 30 percent of consumers abandon their online shopping carts because the payment process is too complicated. Mastercard aims to help retailers deliver the best customer experience by enabling consumer choice, security, transparency and privacy, and it believe this starts with consistency. Similar to the payment that takes place in-store, tokenization and a move towards an industry wide online payment framework could help retailers move towards a payment process that is simple with a single, common online checkout button.”

Although Mastercard is working hard to streamline and improve the security of online shopping and prevent breaches of digital payments, Riviere notes that it is equally important that customers are vigilant and do not sacrifice security for convenience.

Some of Mastercard’s top tips for safer online shopping are:

1. Monitor your account activity. Make regular activity check-ups part of your routine.  This will help keep you aware and on top of any possible threats or suspicious activity in your account.
2. Be smart with your passwords. Use a good combination of letters, numbers and symbols. This doesn’t have to be complicated – it can be a simple and memorable sequence.
3. Check for the padlock.  A good rule of thumb for any online sites involving your money is to check for “https” and a green padlock symbol by the URL. Try to stick to legitimate websites that are familiar to you, or others you know, when shopping online or making online charity donations.
4. Let your bank know. If you do notice suspicious activity on your account, or are aware of identity theft, the best thing to do is leave it to the experts. Notify your bank immediately, and they’ll track down the issue and work to sort it out.
5. Know you’re protected. If you are unlucky enough to be impacted by fraudulent activity, customers are covered under Mastercard Zero Liability, which covers consumers regardless of whether they shop online or in store for any unauthorised purchases.

-ENDS-

About the research
This monthly Perceptive Omnibus surveyed 1007 New Zealanders online in January 2018 using a nationwide sampling framework. The results are then weighted to Statistics New Zealand census gender, age and location data.

The survey and its accompanying reports do not represent Mastercard’s financial performance.

About Mastercard
Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry.  Our global payments processing network connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories.  Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone.  Follow us on Twitter @MastercardAP, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

Mastercard Communications Contact
Emma Hilton
Acumen Republic, for Mastercard
+64 9 354 0583
+64 21 024 95013