The Wanaka App recorded a record-breaking month with traffic to the app up 148 per cent in April compared to April last year. 

Visitation (the number of times the app was opened) surged to 108,723, the second month in a row the app was opened over 100,000 times.

Audiences have been turning to the app and website in search of COVID-19 news and local information; the Wanaka App recorded 11,148 monthly unique readers for April, growth of 85 per cent on April last year.

One hundred and forty five stories were published during the month with some read over 3,000 times. 

“I’m very proud of our editorial team,” Wanaka App co-owner Tony O’Regan said. “The thirst for local information has never been greater and the circumstances for delivering it have never been more difficult.”

Prior to the pandemic the Wanaka App launched a website to complement the mobile app. In April it accounted for 22 per cent of user traffic. “The website provides another channel where we can publish local news and information. It’s about making content as discoverable as possible for the community,” Tony said.

The app’s dining guide was viewed over 7,000 times when takeaways resumed at alert level three. The temporary ‘essential businesses’ section, which was live during the level four lockdown, saw over 4,000 views, and although movement was restricted around the district the roads page was viewed over 8,000 times.

A new COVID-19 ‘pop-up’ section provides information on the pandemic including links to Healthline, information on alert levels and local volunteering. This section was viewed over 12,000 times in April.

“We’ve had some wonderful feedback from readers and advertisers, and been gratified by the number who’ve signed up to be supporters. It makes us more focused than ever to tell local stories. We’re trying hard to do what we can,” Tony said.

The Wanaka App is 100 per cent locally owned and employs five staff, including an editor and two journalists. The Wanaka App launched in 2016.