As we approach the Easter break —a time typically filled with texts, chocolate, memes, and quick check-ins— new research from 2degrees suggests Kiwis may be craving something more meaningful. The study reveals a modern contradiction: Kiwis have more ways to stay in touch than ever, but two thirds say meaningful conversations are harder to come by.

While texting and social media have become the default, a phone call still has the greatest emotional impact - 77% say they feel meaningfully better after speaking to someone close to them, yet only 15% regularly pick up the phone.

Always on, rarely connected:

• 67% of Kiwis say meaningful conversations are harder to come by despite having more ways to stay in touch than ever
• Nearly one in three (32%) are making fewer calls than five years ago
• 23% of Kiwis can't recall a single phone number apart from their own

How Kiwis use their phones to communicate:

• 68% say text-based messaging is their primary way of keeping in touch vs just 15% who default to a phone call
• When asked where their thumb instinctively reaches in a spare moment, 45% said social media vs just 5% who make a call, meaning Kiwis are nine times more likely to scroll than call.

Top reasons Kiwis don’t call more:

• Messaging feels easier (31%)
• Not wanting to interrupt (27%)
• Feeling too busy for a proper conversation (20%)
• Or a phone call feeling too awkward or unexpected (19%)

The case for calling:

• 77% feel better after a phone call with a loved one
• 59% say there is someone in their life they wish they called someone more often

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