---
title: "MIDI controller brands in New Zealand: Which are searched most?"
description: "Compare the MIDI controller brands New Zealanders buy. Share of Search among Novation, Native Instruments, Akai, Arturia and Nektar, the MIDI controller brands Brandwave compares in New Zealand, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-midi-controller-brands"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# MIDI controller brands in New Zealand: Which are searched most?

Compare the MIDI controller brands New Zealanders buy. Share of Search among Novation, Native Instruments, Akai, Arturia and Nektar, the MIDI controller brands Brandwave compares in New Zealand, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: MIDI controller brands
- **Market**: New Zealand
- **Brands compared**: 5
- **Month measured**: Sep 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: Novation, 30.7%

## Which brand is most popular in search among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand?

- In September 2026, Novation was the most searched among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand, with an estimated 390 branded searches, 30.7% of all searches for the five we track.
- Native Instruments is in 2nd place, 5.5 percentage points behind at 25.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Novation’s share of searches among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand increased from 29.6% to 30.7%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Native Instruments’ share of searches among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand decreased from 29.6% to 25.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Akai’s share of searches among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand decreased from 21% to 18.9%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Arturia’s share of searches among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand increased from 16.7% to 17.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Nektar’s share of searches among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand increased from 3.1% to 7.9%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Novation’s share of searches among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand peaked at 36.2% in March 2026 and was lowest at 17.2% in January 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Native Instruments’ share of searches among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand peaked at 47.3% in January 2026 and was lowest at 23.9% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Akai’s share of searches among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand peaked at 21% in October 2025 and was lowest at 14.5% in January 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Arturia’s share of searches among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand peaked at 21.9% in November 2025 and was lowest at 16.7% in October 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Novation rose from 2nd to 1st among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Native Instruments fell from 1st to 2nd among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand.

## Top MIDI controller brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Akai and Arturia appeared every time. Arturia was recommended most often, coming first in three out of five answers. Akai was second, and Novation was third.

Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options.

| Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Arturia | 1st | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 |
| Akai | 2nd | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 |
| Novation | 3rd | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 |
| Native Instruments | 4th | 3 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
| Nektar | 5th | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 5 |

## Every AI answer about MIDI controller brands

- Asked ChatGPT "Which MIDI controller brand should I buy in New Zealand?": 1. Novation, 2. Arturia, 3. Akai, 4. Native Instruments, 5. Nektar
- Asked ChatGPT "What are the best MIDI controller brands in New Zealand?": 1. Arturia, 2. Novation, 3. Native Instruments, 4. Akai, 5. Nektar
- Asked ChatGPT "What's the best MIDI controller brand in New Zealand for music production?": 1. Arturia, 2. Native Instruments, 3. Novation, 4. Akai
- Searched Google, AI Overview "midi keyboard nz": 1. Akai, 2. Nektar, 3. Arturia
- Searched Google, AI Overview "best midi controller": 1. Arturia, 2. Akai, 3. Nektar, 4. Novation

Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [Novation vs Native Instruments: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/native-instruments-vs-novation): 30.7% against 25.2% Share of Search.
- [Novation vs Akai: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/akai-vs-novation): 30.7% against 18.9% Share of Search.
- [Novation vs Arturia: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/arturia-vs-novation): 30.7% against 17.3% Share of Search.
- [Novation vs Nektar: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/nektar-vs-novation): 30.7% against 7.9% Share of Search.
- [Native Instruments vs Akai: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/akai-vs-native-instruments): 25.2% against 18.9% Share of Search.
- [Native Instruments vs Arturia: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/arturia-vs-native-instruments): 25.2% against 17.3% Share of Search.
- [Native Instruments vs Nektar: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/native-instruments-vs-nektar): 25.2% against 7.9% Share of Search.
- [Akai vs Arturia: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/akai-vs-arturia): 18.9% against 17.3% Share of Search.
- [Akai vs Nektar: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/akai-vs-nektar): 18.9% against 7.9% Share of Search.
- [Arturia vs Nektar: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/arturia-vs-nektar): 17.3% against 7.9% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for New Zealand MIDI controller brands in September 2026?

- In September 2026, Novation overtook Native Instruments to become the leader among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand, with 30.7% of the searches.
- In September 2026, Akai overtook Arturia to rank 3rd among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand, with 18.9% of the searches.
- In September 2026, Nektar gained share of searches among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand, from 5.8% to 7.9%.
- In September 2026, Native Instruments lost share of searches among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand, from 28.3% to 25.2%.
- In September 2026, Arturia lost share of searches among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand, from 19.6% to 17.3%.

## Share of Search ranking

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Novation | 30.7% | 390 | 0.0% | Novation |
| 2 | Native Instruments | 25.2% | 320 | -17.9% | Native Instruments |
| 3 | Akai | 18.9% | 240 | -4.0% | Akai |
| 4 | Arturia | 17.3% | 220 | -18.5% | Arturia |
| 5 | Nektar | 7.9% | 100 | +25.0% | Nektar |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | Native Instruments | 480 | 29.6% | 1 |
| Oct 2025 | Novation | 480 | 29.6% | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | Akai | 340 | 21% | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | Arturia | 270 | 16.7% | 4 |
| Oct 2025 | Nektar | 50 | 3.1% | 5 |
| Nov 2025 | Native Instruments | 590 | 32.2% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | Novation | 480 | 26.2% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | Arturia | 400 | 21.9% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | Akai | 280 | 15.3% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | Nektar | 80 | 4.4% | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | Native Instruments | 480 | 32% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | Novation | 390 | 26% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | Akai | 280 | 18.7% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | Arturia | 270 | 18% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | Nektar | 80 | 5.3% | 5 |
| Jan 2026 | Native Instruments | 880 | 47.3% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Arturia | 330 | 17.7% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | Novation | 320 | 17.2% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | Akai | 270 | 14.5% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | Nektar | 60 | 3.2% | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | Native Instruments | 590 | 37.1% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | Novation | 390 | 24.5% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Arturia | 270 | 17% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | Akai | 260 | 16.4% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | Nektar | 80 | 5% | 5 |
| Mar 2026 | Novation | 590 | 36.2% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | Native Instruments | 390 | 23.9% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Akai | 290 | 17.8% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | Arturia | 280 | 17.2% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | Nektar | 80 | 4.9% | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | Novation | 480 | 31.6% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | Native Instruments | 390 | 25.7% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | Akai | 310 | 20.4% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | Arturia | 270 | 17.8% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | Nektar | 70 | 4.6% | 5 |
| May 2026 | Native Instruments | 480 | 29.6% | 1 |
| May 2026 | Novation | 480 | 29.6% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Akai | 330 | 20.4% | 3 |
| May 2026 | Arturia | 270 | 16.7% | 4 |
| May 2026 | Nektar | 60 | 3.7% | 5 |
| Jun 2026 | Novation | 480 | 32.2% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | Native Instruments | 390 | 26.2% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Akai | 270 | 18.1% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | Arturia | 270 | 18.1% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | Nektar | 80 | 5.4% | 5 |
| Jul 2026 | Native Instruments | 390 | 29.3% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | Novation | 390 | 29.3% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | Arturia | 270 | 20.3% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | Akai | 230 | 17.3% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | Nektar | 50 | 3.8% | 5 |
| Aug 2026 | Native Instruments | 390 | 28.3% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | Novation | 390 | 28.3% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | Arturia | 270 | 19.6% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | Akai | 250 | 18.1% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | Nektar | 80 | 5.8% | 5 |
| Sep 2026 | Novation | 390 | 30.7% | 1 |
| Sep 2026 | Native Instruments | 320 | 25.2% | 2 |
| Sep 2026 | Akai | 240 | 18.9% | 3 |
| Sep 2026 | Arturia | 220 | 17.3% | 4 |
| Sep 2026 | Nektar | 100 | 7.9% | 5 |

## What is being compared

- **Akai**: Measured on the search terms “akai” and “akai midi controller”, summed into one figure.
- **Arturia**: Measured on the search terms “arturia” and “arturia midi controller”, summed into one figure.
- **Native Instruments**: Measured on the search terms “native instruments” and “nativeinstruments”, summed into one figure.
- **Nektar**: Measured on the search terms “nektar” and “nektar keyboard”, summed into one figure.
- **Novation**: Measured on the search term “novation”.

- [Akai](/demand/nz/brands/akai)
- [Arturia](/demand/nz/brands/arturia)
- [Native Instruments](/demand/nz/brands/native-instruments)
- [Nektar](/demand/nz/brands/nektar)
- [Novation](/demand/nz/brands/novation)

## Methodology

- [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand?

In September 2026, Novation was the most searched among MIDI controller brands in New Zealand, with an estimated 390 branded searches, 30.7% of all searches for the five we track.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "MIDI controller brands in New Zealand: Which are searched most?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-midi-controller-brands

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-midi-controller-brands. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.