Brandwave

How popular isUnitec?

In September 2026, people searched for Unitec by name about 12,500 times in New Zealand, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 9.6% of all New Zealand polytechnic searches, placing Unitec third out of 14 polytechnics. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about polytechnics, Unitec appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the 14.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Unitec is the third most searched of 14 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Open PolytechnicShare of searches 33.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  2. Otago PolytechnicShare of searches 9.7%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  3. UnitecShare of searches 9.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. Toi OhomaiShare of searches 8.8%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 13th
  5. Ara Institute of CanterburyShare of searches 8.4%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd

+9 more

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Top polytechnics in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Unitec appeared in all five answers. Unitec is the most recommended of the 14.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Unitec1st
  2. Ara Institute of Canterbury2nd
  3. Otago Polytechnic3rd
  4. Manukau Institute of Technology4th
  5. Open Polytechnic5th
  6. Whitireia6th
  7. WelTec7th
  8. EIT8th
  9. SIT9th
  10. Wintec10th
  11. +4 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Unitec5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Otago Polytechnic4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ara Institute of Canterbury4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Open Polytechnic3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Wintec3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • SIT3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Manukau Institute of Technology3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Whitireia2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • WelTec2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Toi Ohomai1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

+4 more

See every answer about polytechnics

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Which polytechnics compete with Unitec?

Unitec against polytechnics in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Open Polytechnic, Otago Polytechnic, Unitec, Toi Ohomai, Ara Institute of Canterbury, Wintec, SIT, Whitireia, Manukau Institute of Technology, UCOL, NMIT, WelTec. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthOpen PolytechnicOtago PolytechnicUnitecToi OhomaiAra Institute of CanterburyWintecSITWhitireiaManukau Institute of TechnologyUCOLNMITWelTecNorthTecEIT
Oct 202530.6%10.7%8.8%6.6%7.4%7.2%6.7%6.6%4.7%3.3%2.6%2.6%1.8%0.26%
Nov 202533.1%9.5%9.6%6.8%7.2%7.8%7.2%5.3%4.2%3%2.3%2.1%1.6%0.22%
Dec 202538.5%9.1%9.2%6.6%6.1%6.2%8.5%2.7%4.1%3.4%2.2%2%1.3%0.26%
Jan 202634.5%10%8.2%7.1%6.7%6.8%9.2%2.6%4.4%3.8%2.5%2.3%1.5%0.34%
Feb 202628.3%9.9%10%8.4%8.4%8.2%6.1%5.1%4.4%3.8%3%2.5%1.7%0.24%
Mar 202627.9%12%9.8%8.6%8.9%6.6%6%6.1%4.3%3%2.4%2.4%1.7%0.2%
Apr 202635.7%10.3%8.5%6.3%8.1%7%6.4%5.2%3.8%2.6%2.1%2.1%1.7%0.21%
May 202630.6%10.9%8.9%7.8%8.1%8.9%6.8%5.5%3.9%2.7%2.2%2%1.5%0.26%
Jun 202630.9%10.9%9%7.9%7.8%7.4%8.3%4.8%4%2.8%2.2%2.3%1.6%0.27%
Jul 202630.3%10.7%10.8%6.7%8.6%7.2%6.6%4.8%4.7%3.3%2.2%2.3%1.5%0.24%
Aug 202630.3%10.8%8.8%8%8.6%7.2%6.6%5.1%3.9%3.4%2.6%2.5%1.8%0.23%
Sep 202633.1%9.7%9.6%8.8%8.4%6.5%5.9%5.1%3.5%3%2.3%2.3%1.6%0.24%

  1. 1.Open Polytechnic

    33.1%

    Held 1st. 43K estimated branded searches, +0.33% vs prior month. Share +2.8 points.

  2. 2.Otago Polytechnic

    9.7%

    Held 2nd. 12.5K estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.

  3. 3.Unitec

    9.6%

    Held 3rd. 12.5K estimated branded searches, -0.24% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  4. 4.Toi Ohomai

    8.8%

    Moved from 5th to 4th. 11.4K estimated branded searches, +0.09% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  5. 5.Ara Institute of Canterbury

    8.4%

    Moved from 4th to 5th. 10.9K estimated branded searches, -10.6% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  6. 6.Wintec

    6.5%

    Held 6th. 8.4K estimated branded searches, -17.5% vs prior month. Share -0.7 points.

  7. 7.SIT

    5.9%

    Held 7th. 7.7K estimated branded searches, -17.9% vs prior month. Share -0.7 points.

  8. 8.Whitireia

    5.1%

    Held 8th. 6.6K estimated branded searches, -8.8% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  9. 9.Manukau Institute of Technology

    3.5%

    Held 9th. 4.5K estimated branded searches, -17.9% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  10. 10.UCOL

    3%

    Held 10th. 3.9K estimated branded searches, -19.4% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  11. 11.NMIT

    2.3%

    Held 11th. 3K estimated branded searches, -18.7% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  12. 12.WelTec

    2.3%

    Held 12th. 3K estimated branded searches, -15% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  13. 13.NorthTec

    1.6%

    Held 13th. 2.1K estimated branded searches, -20.7% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  14. 14.EIT

    0.24%

    Held 14th. 310 estimated branded searches, -3.1% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Unitec and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Unitec

13 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Unitec in New Zealand held steady at 12.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Unitec’s share of searches among polytechnics in New Zealand increased from 8.8% to 9.6%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Unitec’s share of searches among polytechnics in New Zealand peaked at 10.8% in July 2026 and was lowest at 8.2% in January 2026.

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

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Toi Ohomai overtook Ara Institute of Canterbury to rank 4th among polytechnics in New Zealand, with 8.8% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Open Polytechnic gained share of searches among polytechnics in New Zealand, from 30.3% to 33.1%.

  3. In September 2026, Unitec gained share of searches among polytechnics in New Zealand, from 8.8% to 9.6%.

  4. In September 2026, Otago Polytechnic lost share of searches among polytechnics in New Zealand, from 10.8% to 9.7%.

  5. In September 2026, Wintec lost share of searches among polytechnics in New Zealand, from 7.2% to 6.5%.

  6. In September 2026, SIT lost share of searches among polytechnics in New Zealand, from 6.6% to 5.9%.

How are Unitec’s branded searches counted?

7 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Unitec’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.

  • unitec
  • unitec courses
  • unitec enrol
  • unitec gym
  • unitec library hours
  • unitec sports centre
  • unitec study

Do you work for Unitec? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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