The message not to text or drive isn't getting through to many under 30s.

New research from Canstar Blue shows nearly one in ten New Zealanders are still texting or talking on handheld phones while behind the wheel.

General manager Derek Bonnar says that's a decline on last year, but younger people are continuing to flout the law.

"That is still a worrying number, and Generation Ys are over-represented with nearly one in five Gen Ys saying they do that."

The research also shows that people with work phones aren't necessarily on the job around the clock.

Nearly a quarter of New Zealanders switch off their work phones after hours or over the weekend.

Derek Bonnar says people are increasingly leaving work in the office and embracing a work-life balance.

"I guess the flip-side is 75-percent of people say they don't, so it's possible a lot of people are never getting away from the office."

Another finding of the survey is that 50-percent of Generation Ys consider data more important than minutes or texting.

Colmar Brunton Australia surveyed 2220 people around New Zealand and the results have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1-percent.