Despite strong double-digit growth in local sales, international online sales continued to dominate, up 21 per cent in January compared with the same month a year earlier, although Baker said this was partly due to a drop in the New Zealand dollar.
"It's hard to be too specific [on what is driving the growth] - it's partly just the ongoing trends towards online but also the fact that the Kiwi dollar has dropped 15 per cent against the US dollar," Baker said.
"It just means that it will cost a bit more for that Amazon book or clothing from ASOS, so people can respond to that by buying less goods but they don't seem to be, they just seem to be paying more for them."
Growth in online sales was boosted by the computer and entertainment media category which continued the strong sales it had in December, as well as clothing with sales up 20 per cent on January last year.
Baker said goods available overseas that were harder to source locally including clothing brands, were likely to be a factor in the international spend growth.
The government is currently looking into lowering the threshold for GST tax on goods which would have an effect on international sales, although how much is unclear.
