Child and family charities in New Zealand:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, Plunket was the most searched child and family charity in New Zealand, accounting for 43.9% of all searches among the nine charities we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Barnardos Early Learning was mentioned most often, in three of the four answers. Barnardos Early Learning was recommended most often, coming first in one out of three responses that gave a list.
PlunketShare of searches 43.9%Mentioned in 1 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Barnardos Early LearningShare of searches 20.9%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
VarietyShare of searches 12.6%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
IHC New ZealandShare of searches 9.3%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
Starship FoundationShare of searches 6.5%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
Follow child and family charities and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top child and family charities in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Barnardos Early Learning was mentioned most often, in three of the four answers. Barnardos Early Learning was recommended most often, coming first in one out of three answers that gave a list. KidsCan was second, and Variety was third. IHC New Zealand, which ranked fourth in searches, was not mentioned at all.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Barnardos Early Learning3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Variety2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
ChildFund New Zealand2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
KidsCan2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- Plunket1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Ronald McDonald House Charities1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- IHC New Zealand0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Starship Foundation0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Make-A-Wish NZ0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about child and family charities
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which child and family charity should I join in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best child and family charities in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best child and family charity in New Zealand for supporting children?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“family support charity”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“child and family charities nz”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.
Which child and family charities do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each child and family charity by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine child and family charities we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Plunket, Barnardos Early Learning, Variety, IHC New Zealand, Starship Foundation, ChildFund New Zealand, Make-A-Wish NZ. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Plunket | Barnardos Early Learning | Variety | IHC New Zealand | Starship Foundation | ChildFund New Zealand | Make-A-Wish NZ | Ronald McDonald House Charities | KidsCan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 40.5% | 22.5% | 10.4% | 8.6% | 8.5% | 2.8% | 3% | 3.7% | — |
| Nov 2025 | 38% | 16.9% | 18.8% | 8.3% | 9.2% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 2.8% | — |
| Dec 2025 | 35.8% | 16.9% | 18.8% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 3.7% | 2.8% | 2.8% | — |
| Jan 2026 | 38% | 20.5% | 15.2% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 3.8% | 2.8% | 3.5% | — |
| Feb 2026 | 30.4% | 19.7% | 21.9% | 9.6% | 9.4% | 2.9% | 2.7% | 3.3% | — |
| Mar 2026 | 31.9% | 25.1% | 15.7% | 9% | 8.8% | 4% | 2.8% | 2.8% | — |
| Apr 2026 | 39% | 20.7% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 8% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2.8% | — |
| May 2026 | 39% | 21.4% | 13.1% | 9.3% | 9.4% | 2% | 2.3% | 3.5% | — |
| Jun 2026 | 38.1% | 16.6% | 15.5% | 9.2% | 7.9% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 7.7% | — |
| Jul 2026 | 44.3% | 16.4% | 15.6% | 7.9% | 6.4% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 3.4% | — |
| Aug 2026 | 50.6% | 15.9% | 9.5% | 7.7% | 6.1% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 4.9% | — |
| Sep 2026 | 43.9% | 20.9% | 12.6% | 9.3% | 6.5% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.8% | — |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 43.9% | 5K | -16.9% | -6.8 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 20.9% | 2.4K | +26.3% | +5 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 12.6% | 1.4K | +26.3% | +3 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 9.3% | 1.1K | +16.3% | +1.6 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 6.5% | 740 | +1.4% | +0.3 points | |
| 6, moved from 8th to 6th | 2.8% | 320 | +6.7% | +0.3 pointsmoved from 8th to 6th | |
| 7, held 7th | 2.3% | 260 | -18.8% | -0.4 points | |
| 8, moved from 6th to 8th | 1.8% | 210 | -64.4% | -3.1 pointsmoved from 6th to 8th | |
| —, not measured this month | — | — | — | — |
1.
Plunket43.9%
Held 1st. 5K estimated branded searches, -16.9% vs prior month. Share -6.8 points.
20.9%
Held 2nd. 2.4K estimated branded searches, +26.3% vs prior month. Share +5 points.
3.
Variety12.6%
Held 3rd. 1.4K estimated branded searches, +26.3% vs prior month. Share +3 points.
9.3%
Held 4th. 1.1K estimated branded searches, +16.3% vs prior month. Share +1.6 points.
6.5%
Held 5th. 740 estimated branded searches, +1.4% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.
2.8%
Moved from 8th to 6th. 320 estimated branded searches, +6.7% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.
2.3%
Held 7th. 260 estimated branded searches, -18.8% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
Moved from 6th to 8th. 210 estimated branded searches, -64.4% vs prior month. Share -3.1 points.
—.
KidsCan—
Not measured this month. — estimated branded searches, — vs prior month. Share —.
Which brand is most popular in search among child and family charities in New Zealand?
8 brands
In September 2026, Plunket was the most searched among child and family charities in New Zealand, with an estimated 5K branded searches, 43.9% of all searches for the nine we track. Barnardos Early Learning is in 2nd place, 22.9 percentage points behind at 20.9%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plunket | 40.5% → 43.9% | 50.6%Aug 2026 | 30.4%Feb 2026 | 1st |
| Barnardos Early Learning | 22.5% → 20.9% | 25.1%Mar 2026 | 15.9%Aug 2026 | 2nd |
| Variety | 10.4% → 12.6% | 21.9%Feb 2026 | 9.5%Aug 2026 | 3rd |
| IHC New Zealand | 8.6% → 9.3% | 10.1%Apr 2026 | 7.7%Aug 2026 | 4th |
| Starship Foundation | 8.5% → 6.5% | 9.6%Dec 2025 | 6.1%Aug 2026 | 5th |
| ChildFund New Zealand | 2.8% | 4%Mar 2026 | 2%May 2026 | 8th → 6th |
| Make-A-Wish NZ | 3% → 2.3% | 3.5%Apr 2026 | 2.3%Sep 2026 | 7th |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities | 3.7% → 1.8% | 7.7%Jun 2026 | 1.8%Sep 2026 | 6th → 8th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Plunket’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand increased from 40.5% to 43.9%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Barnardos Early Learning’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand decreased from 22.5% to 20.9%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Variety’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand increased from 10.4% to 12.6%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, IHC New Zealand’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand increased from 8.6% to 9.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Starship Foundation’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand decreased from 8.5% to 6.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Make-A-Wish NZ’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand decreased from 3% to 2.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ronald McDonald House Charities’ share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand decreased from 3.7% to 1.8%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Plunket’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand peaked at 50.6% in August 2026 and was lowest at 30.4% in February 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Barnardos Early Learning’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand peaked at 25.1% in March 2026 and was lowest at 15.9% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Variety’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand peaked at 21.9% in February 2026 and was lowest at 9.5% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, IHC New Zealand’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand peaked at 10.1% in April 2026 and was lowest at 7.7% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Starship Foundation’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand peaked at 9.6% in December 2025 and was lowest at 6.1% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ChildFund New Zealand’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand peaked at 4% in March 2026 and was lowest at 2% in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Make-A-Wish NZ’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand peaked at 3.5% in April 2026 and was lowest at 2.3% in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ronald McDonald House Charities’ share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand peaked at 7.7% in June 2026 and was lowest at 1.8% in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ChildFund New Zealand rose from 8th to 6th among child and family charities in New Zealand.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ronald McDonald House Charities fell from 6th to 8th among child and family charities in New Zealand.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, KidsCan held steady: its share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand child and family charities in September 2026?
8 changes
In September 2026, Barnardos Early Learning gained share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand, from 15.9% to 20.9%.
In September 2026, Variety gained share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand, from 9.5% to 12.6%.
In September 2026, IHC New Zealand gained share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand, from 7.7% to 9.3%.
In September 2026, Plunket lost share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand, from 50.6% to 43.9%.
In September 2026, Ronald McDonald House Charities lost share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand, from 4.9% to 1.8%.
Make-A-Wish NZ’s share of searches among child and family charities in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 2.8% to 2.3% in September 2026.
In September 2026, ChildFund New Zealand rose from 8th to 6th among child and family charities in New Zealand.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Starship Foundation in New Zealand fell 17.8% over 12 measured months, from 900 to 740 in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands
- Plunket vs Barnardos Early Learning: compare popularity
- Plunket vs Variety: compare popularity
- Plunket vs IHC New Zealand: compare popularity
- Plunket vs Starship Foundation: compare popularity
- Barnardos Early Learning vs Variety: compare popularity
- Barnardos Early Learning vs IHC New Zealand: compare popularity
- Barnardos Early Learning vs Starship Foundation: compare popularity
- Variety vs IHC New Zealand: compare popularity
- Variety vs Starship Foundation: compare popularity
- IHC New Zealand vs Starship Foundation: compare popularity
- Compare any of these brands
See your own brand in this picture
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to your campaigns, spend and outcomes, so you can see what moved your numbers, not just that they moved.