Sir Ed top Google NZ hit list

Internet search engine giant Google released the New Zealand' s top Web searches this year, and Sir Edmund Hilary is topping the Kiwi celebrity Web searches of 2008.

While Prime Minister John Key was the most searched "John" in the web, just ahead of Elthon John.

According to Google spokesman Annie Baxter, the results also showed New Zealanders were looking for quite useful things- often going online to check the weather or search a map.

Heath Ledger was number one in "died" searches, while Elvis and 'The Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin also made the list.

American singer Chris Brown and US President-Elect Barack Obama topped New Zealanders' most searched celebrities on Google this year.

Here are some of the top 10 lists for most searched terms in 2008:

Top 10 searches on google.co.nz in 2008
1. games
2. bebo
3. youtube
4. Trade Me
5. lyrics
6. google
7. map
8. hotmail
9. tv
10. weather

Fastest rising searches of 2008
1. olympics
2. facebook
3. youtube
4. lotto
5. wiki
6. seek
7. miniclip
8. asb
9. tvnz
10. large hadron collider
11. heath ledger
12. obama
13. gossip girl
14. jonas brothers
15. miley cyrus
16. euro 2008
17. mathletics

Most popular 'tickets' searches for 2008
1. rugby tickets
2. all blacks tickets
3. warriors tickets
4. chris brown tickets
5. sevens tickets
6. cricket tickets
7. big day out tickets
8. rihanna tickets
9. super 14 tickets
10. westlife tickets

Most popular 'died' searches for 2008 (or rumours of)
1. heath ledger died
2. ishmeet died
3. soulja boy died*
4. bob marley died**
5. bernie mac died
6. sir edmund hillary died
7. freddy mercury died**
8. miley cyrus died*
9. elvis presley died**
10. steve irwin died**
*still very much alive
**died before 2008

Most popular celebrities searched in 2008
1. chris brown
2. obama
3. miley cyrus
4. rihanna
5. heath ledger
6. britney spears
7. sir edmund hillary
8. leona lewis
9. amy winehouse
10. lauren conrad

Most popular 'diets' searches for 2008
1. detox diet
2. lemon diet
3. free diet
4. soup diet
5. atkins diet
6. diet recipes
7. low carb diet
8. healthy diet
9. blood type diet
10. gluten free diet

Most popular 'john' searches in 2008
1. john key
2. st john
3. elton john
4. john cena
5. john deere
6. john mayer
7. john mccain
8. john lennon
9. john paul
10. dr john