Brandwave

How popular isThe Whaler?

In September 2026, people searched for The Whaler by name about 600 times in New Zealand, a 10.4% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 7.5% of all New Zealand Kaikōura restaurant searches, placing The Whaler third out of six restaurants. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about Kaikōura restaurants, The Whaler did not appear in any of the answers.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

The Whaler is the third most searched of 6 competitors and not listed in any AI answer.

  1. The Pier HotelShare of searches 58.7%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. Black Rabbit PizzaShare of searches 20%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  3. The WhalerShare of searches 7.5%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  4. HikuShare of searches 5.7%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. Kaikōura Seafood BBQShare of searches 4.9%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

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Top Kaikōura restaurants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, The Whaler did not appear in any of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Zephyr Restaurant1st
  2. The Pier Hotel2nd
  3. Kaikōura Seafood BBQ3rd
  4. Black Rabbit Pizza4th
  5. The Whaler–
  6. Hiku–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Zephyr Restaurant4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • The Pier Hotel3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Kaikōura Seafood BBQ3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Black Rabbit Pizza2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • The Whaler0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Hiku0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about Kaikōura restaurants

4 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Which Kaikōura restaurants compete with The Whaler?

The Whaler against Kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for The Pier Hotel, Black Rabbit Pizza, The Whaler, Hiku, Kaikōura Seafood BBQ, Zephyr Restaurant. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthThe Pier HotelBlack Rabbit PizzaThe WhalerHikuKaikōura Seafood BBQZephyr Restaurant
Oct 202555%26.8%6.2%3.9%4.4%3.6%
Nov 202556.6%26.6%5.4%3.1%5.3%2.9%
Dec 202553.1%30.4%5.5%3.3%5%2.7%
Jan 202655.9%26.2%5.8%4%5.2%2.9%
Feb 202660.1%25.5%4.2%2.5%4.2%3.4%
Mar 202656.3%26.6%5.3%3.9%4.4%3.6%
Apr 202656.2%24.6%6.5%4.4%5%3.3%
May 202651.9%25.2%7.4%6%5.2%4.2%
Jun 202652.5%20%10.6%7.4%5.2%4.2%
Jul 202655%20.1%8.4%7.8%4.8%3.9%
Aug 202657.1%18.6%8.7%7.6%4.8%3.2%
Sep 202658.7%20%7.5%5.7%4.9%3.2%

  1. 1.The Pier Hotel

    58.7%

    Held 1st. 4.7K estimated branded searches, +52.9% vs prior month. Share +1.6 points.

  2. 2.Black Rabbit Pizza

    20%

    Held 2nd. 1.6K estimated branded searches, +60% vs prior month. Share +1.4 points.

  3. 3.The Whaler

    7.5%

    Held 3rd. 600 estimated branded searches, +27.7% vs prior month. Share -1.2 points.

  4. 4.Hiku

    5.7%

    Held 4th. 460 estimated branded searches, +12.2% vs prior month. Share -1.9 points.

  5. 5.Kaikōura Seafood BBQ

    4.9%

    Held 5th. 390 estimated branded searches, +50% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.Zephyr Restaurant

    3.2%

    Held 6th. 260 estimated branded searches, +52.9% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

Compare popularity between The Whaler and its closest rivals

Every comparison with The Whaler

5 comparisons

How has branded search demand for The Whaler changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for The Whaler in New Zealand fell from 670 to 600.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Whaler’s share of searches among Kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand increased from 6.2% to 7.5%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Whaler’s share of searches among Kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand peaked at 10.6% in June 2026 and was lowest at 4.2% in February 2026.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand Kaikōura restaurants in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, The Pier Hotel gained share of searches among Kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand, from 57.1% to 58.7%.

  2. In September 2026, Black Rabbit Pizza gained share of searches among Kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand, from 18.6% to 20%.

  3. In September 2026, Hiku lost share of searches among Kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand, from 7.6% to 5.7%.

  4. In September 2026, The Whaler lost share of searches among Kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand, from 8.7% to 7.5%.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Zephyr Restaurant in New Zealand fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 390 to 260 in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Kaikōura Seafood BBQ in New Zealand fell 18.8% over 12 measured months, from 480 to 390 in September 2026.

How are The Whaler’s branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using The Whaler’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • the whaler
  • the whaler kaikoura
  • whaler kaikoura

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