More and more Kiwis appear to be avoiding the news in droves.

According to a new study, 60 percent of New Zealanders have admitted to avoiding the news - citing lack of trust or the way it negatively impacts their mood.

Victoria University's Dr Alex Beattie, the lead author behind the study, says people's appetite for the news has decreased in recent years amid a surge in negative headlines. 

"The pandemic, the number of wars, crises - and I think that's having a cumulative effect. There's also the perceived quality - or lack of quality - to the news, there's a perception of bias."

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