Bain beats Tua in Google searches

The most common terms typed into search engine Google this year show Kiwis are a diverse bunch interested in murder, boxing, tragedy, science fiction and naked women.

The most searched New Zealander was David Bain who, in a retrial, was cleared of the 1994 murders of five family members.

He narrowly edged out boxer David Tua, who demolished Shane Cameron inside four minutes in a bout optimistically billed as "The Fight of the Century".

Warriors rugby league star Sonny Fai, who died after being swept out to sea in January, was the third most searched Kiwi.

A Penthouse nude model, Auckland teacher Rachel Whitwell, provided the ogle on Google and rounded out the top four.

Fantasy flicks New Moon and Twilight took out the top two spots in the most searched movie category. Also included on the list are Star Trek, 2012, Avatar, District 9 and the anticipated Halo movie.

Auckland gets a special mention – or at least the new "toll road" just north of the city does as it was the fastest-rising term searched for on the web.

Melbourne Cup 2009 was in second place which goes to prove Kiwis either love a flutter or are trying ways to raise funds to pay their road toll bills.

Social networking site Facebook was the most searched for term overall, a new entrant into the annual Most Popular Top 10. It narrowly edged out YouTube and Trade Me.

Lists of the most popular searches include hot tickets, albums and festivals.

- © Fairfax NZ News