Lucid Media Lucid Media
Book a Call
General

Google Analytics 4 Setup Guide for NZ Businesses

Jason Poonia Jason Poonia | | 6 min read
Google Analytics 4 Setup Guide for NZ Businesses

Google Analytics 4 has been the standard for a while now, but we still see NZ businesses with broken setups, missing data, or no analytics at all.

Here's how to set up GA4 properly so you actually get useful data about your website visitors.

What GA4 Is (And Why It Changed)

GA4 replaced Universal Analytics. The main differences:

  • Event-based tracking: Everything is an event (page views, clicks, scrolls, conversions). More flexible, but different to set up.
  • Machine learning: Built-in AI for predictions and insights.
  • Privacy-focused: Works better with cookie restrictions and privacy regulations.
  • Cross-platform: Can track websites and apps together.

If you're used to Universal Analytics, GA4 feels different. But once you understand the logic, it's more powerful.

Setting Up GA4 From Scratch

Step 1: Create Your GA4 Property

  • Go to analytics.google.com
  • Click Admin (gear icon)
  • Click "Create Property"
  • Enter your property name (usually your business name)
  • Set your timezone to NZ and currency to NZD
  • Answer questions about your business (optional but helps)
  • Accept terms and create the property

Step 2: Create a Data Stream

A data stream connects your website to GA4.

  • In Admin, under your property, click "Data Streams"
  • Click "Add Stream" and select "Web"
  • Enter your website URL (with https://)
  • Enter a stream name (e.g., "Main Website")
  • Enable Enhanced Measurement (recommended)
  • Click "Create stream"

You'll now see your Measurement ID (starts with G-). You'll need this for installation.

Step 3: Install the Tracking Code

Option A: Direct installation

  • In your data stream, click "View tag instructions"
  • Copy the code snippet
  • Paste it into the section of every page on your site

Option B: Google Tag Manager (Recommended)

  • Create a Google Tag Manager account if you don't have one
  • Install GTM on your website
  • In GTM, create a new tag: Google Analytics: GA4 Configuration
  • Enter your Measurement ID
  • Set trigger to "All Pages"
  • Publish the container

We recommend GTM because it makes future changes easier without touching your website code.

Option C: WordPress Plugin

If you use WordPress, plugins like MonsterInsights or GA Google Analytics can install GA4 without code editing.

Step 4: Verify Installation

  • In GA4, go to Reports > Realtime
  • Open your website in another browser tab
  • You should see yourself as an active user
  • If you see data, installation worked

Can also use the Google Tag Assistant browser extension to verify.

Essential Configuration

Enable Enhanced Measurement

Enhanced Measurement automatically tracks common events without extra setup:

  • Page views
  • Scrolls (90% of page)
  • Outbound link clicks
  • Site searches
  • Video engagement (YouTube embeds)
  • File downloads

This should be enabled by default. Check in Data Streams > your stream > Enhanced measurement.

Set Up Conversions

Conversions (called "Goals" in old GA) track important actions. Common conversions:

  • Contact form submissions
  • Phone number clicks
  • Quote requests
  • Purchases
  • Newsletter signups

To set up a conversion:

  • Go to Admin > Events
  • If the event exists, toggle "Mark as conversion"
  • If not, create a custom event first (see below)

Create Custom Events

Some important actions need custom events. For example, tracking form submissions:

In GTM:

  • Create a trigger for form submission (or use page view of thank you page)
  • Create a GA4 Event tag
  • Name your event (e.g., "form_submit" or "generate_lead")
  • Add parameters if needed (form_name, etc.)

In GA4 directly:

  • Admin > Events > Create event
  • Define conditions (e.g., when page_location contains "/thank-you")
  • Save the event

Link Google Ads and Search Console

If you use Google Ads or want search data:

Google Ads:

Admin > Product links > Google Ads > Link

Search Console:

Admin > Product links > Search Console > Link

This brings valuable data into GA4 and enables better attribution.

Set Up E-commerce Tracking (If Applicable)

For online stores, e-commerce tracking requires additional setup:

  • Ensure your platform sends e-commerce events (most major platforms have plugins)
  • Verify events are firing: purchase, add_to_cart, view_item, etc.
  • Check Monetisation reports in GA4

Platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Squarespace have GA4 integration options.

Understanding GA4 Reports

Real-Time

Shows current activity on your site. Useful for verifying tracking and monitoring campaigns.

Acquisition

Where your visitors come from:

  • User acquisition: How new users found you
  • Traffic acquisition: All sessions by source

Key metrics: Users, Sessions, Engagement rate, Conversions by source

Engagement

How visitors interact with your site:

  • Pages and screens: Which pages get traffic
  • Events: All tracked actions
  • Conversions: Goal completions

Monetisation (E-commerce)

Revenue data if you sell online:

  • Revenue, purchases, average order value
  • Products viewed and purchased
  • Purchase journeys

Retention

How well you keep users coming back:

  • New vs returning users
  • Cohort analysis
  • User lifetime value

Explorations: Custom Reports

Explorations let you build custom reports. Start with templates:

  • Funnel exploration: Visualise user paths through conversion steps
  • Path exploration: See common user journeys
  • Segment overlap: Compare different user groups

Explorations are more powerful than standard reports but have a learning curve.

Common Setup Mistakes

Not Filtering Internal Traffic

Your own visits skew data. Filter them:

  • Admin > Data Streams > your stream > Configure tag settings
  • Define internal traffic (your IP address)
  • Admin > Data Settings > Data Filters > Activate internal traffic filter

Wrong Timezone

If your timezone is wrong, your daily reports won't match your actual business days. Set to Pacific/Auckland.

Forgetting to Set Up Conversions

GA4 doesn't track conversions by default. You have to tell it what matters.

Not Enabling Enhanced Measurement

Free tracking for scrolls, clicks, searches, downloads. Make sure it's on.

Multiple Tags on the Same Page

Duplicates inflate your numbers. Check you only have one GA4 tag per page.

Not Verifying the Setup

Always check Realtime reports after installation. Many broken setups go unnoticed for months.

Privacy and Cookie Consent in NZ

NZ doesn't have GDPR, but good practice (and some clients) require cookie consent:

  • GA4 can work with consent mode (fires limited data without full consent)
  • Consider a cookie consent banner if you target international visitors
  • Be transparent about tracking in your privacy policy

What to Do Next

  • Check your current setup: Is GA4 installed and working?
  • Set up key conversions: Form submissions, phone clicks, purchases
  • Link Google Ads and Search Console
  • Filter internal traffic
  • Schedule monthly data reviews

Data is only useful if you look at it.

Need help setting up or fixing your Google Analytics? Get in touch and we'll make sure your tracking works properly.

![image]()

Jason Poonia

Written by

Jason Poonia

Jason Poonia is the founder and Managing Director of Lucid Media, helping NZ businesses grow online since 2018. With over 6 years delivering results for clients across New Zealand and internationally, Jason combines technical expertise with proven marketing strategies to help businesses attract more customers and build scalable systems. Background in Computer Science from the University of Auckland.