Brandwave

Polytechnics in New Zealand:Which brands are most popular in search?

In August 2026, Open Polytechnic was the most searched among polytechnics in New Zealand, with an estimated 43.6K branded searches and 28.2% estimated Share of Search within this set.

Follow polytechnics 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

Track your brand in this set →

Share of SearchLeaderboard

Compare New Zealand polytechnics and institutes of technology offering vocational and applied study. 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.

Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of search table
MonthOpen PolytechnicUnitecOtago PolytechnicWintecAra Institute of CanterburyToi OhomaiWhitireiaUCOLManukau Institute of TechnologySITNMITEITWelTecNorthTec
Oct 202528.5%12.3%10%8.2%6.9%6.3%6.5%3.9%4.4%3.3%2.6%2.6%2.6%1.9%
Nov 202531.2%12.9%9%8.8%6.7%6.5%5.3%3.5%4%3.5%2.3%2.3%2.2%1.8%
Dec 202536.1%12.7%8.5%7.5%5.6%6.2%2.9%4.1%3.8%4.2%2.2%2.7%2%1.5%
Jan 202632.4%11.3%9.4%8.4%6.2%6.8%2.8%4.5%4.2%4.5%2.4%3%2.3%1.8%
Feb 202626.1%13.2%9.1%9.3%7.8%7.8%4.9%4.5%4.1%2.9%2.9%2.8%2.6%1.9%
Mar 202626.1%13.3%11.1%7.7%8.3%8%5.9%3.6%4%2.9%2.4%2.3%2.4%1.8%
Apr 202633.2%11.8%9.7%8.3%7.5%6%5.1%3.2%3.6%3.2%2.1%2.4%2.2%1.8%
May 202628.4%12.3%10.2%10.2%7.5%7.3%5.2%3.4%3.7%3.3%2.1%2.6%2%1.6%
Jun 202629%12.6%10.2%8.6%7.3%7.4%4.8%3.5%3.7%4.1%2.6%2.2%2.3%1.7%
Jul 202628%14.6%9.9%8.4%7.9%6.2%4.7%3.9%4.4%3.2%2.1%2.6%2.4%1.7%
Aug 202628.2%12.4%10.1%8.4%7.9%7.5%5%4%3.6%3.2%2.6%2.5%2.5%2%
Sep 2026——————————————

This month’s ranking, August 2026

  1. held 1st · 43.6K estimated branded searches · +0.37% vs prior month · +0.2 points

  2. 2.Unitec

    12.4%

    held 2nd · 19.2K estimated branded searches · -15.6% vs prior month · -2.2 points

  3. held 3rd · 15.6K estimated branded searches · +0.91% vs prior month · +0.1 points

  4. 4.Wintec

    8.4%

    held 4th · 12.9K estimated branded searches · -1.1% vs prior month · -0.1 points

  5. held 5th · 12.3K estimated branded searches · 0% vs prior month · 0 points

  6. held 6th · 11.7K estimated branded searches · +20.4% vs prior month · +1.3 points

  7. held 7th · 7.8K estimated branded searches · +7.1% vs prior month · +0.4 points

  8. 8.UCOL

    4%

    moved from 9th to 8th · 6.3K estimated branded searches · +3.3% vs prior month · +0.1 points

  9. moved from 8th to 9th · 5.6K estimated branded searches · -18.5% vs prior month · -0.8 points

  10. 10.SIT

    3.2%

    held 10th · 5K estimated branded searches · -0.4% vs prior month · 0 points

  11. 11.NMIT

    2.6%

    moved from 13th to 11th · 4K estimated branded searches · +20% vs prior month · +0.4 points

  12. 12.EIT

    2.5%

    moved from 11th to 12th · 3.9K estimated branded searches · -1.5% vs prior month · 0 points

  13. 13.WelTec

    2.5%

    moved from 12th to 13th · 3.9K estimated branded searches · +5.7% vs prior month · +0.1 points

  14. held 14th · 3K estimated branded searches · +17.8% vs prior month · +0.3 points

Compare search popularity between leading brands

Which brand is most popular in search among polytechnics in New Zealand?

In August 2026, Open Polytechnic was the most searched among polytechnics in New Zealand, with an estimated 43.6K branded searches and 28.2% estimated Share of Search within this set. Unitec is in 2nd place, 15.8 percentage points behind at 12.4% Share of Search.

New Zealand polytechnics, last 12 months ending September 2026
BrandShare of SearchPeakLowRank
Open Polytechnic28.5% → 28.2%36.1%Dec 202526.1%Mar 20261st
Unitec12.3% → 12.4%14.6%Jul 202611.3%Jan 20262nd
Otago Polytechnic10% → 10.1%11.1%Mar 20268.5%Dec 20253rd
Wintec8.2% → 8.4%10.2%May 20267.5%Dec 20254th
Ara Institute of Canterbury6.9% → 7.9%8.3%Mar 20265.6%Dec 20255th
Toi Ohomai6.3% → 7.5%8%Mar 20266%Apr 20267th → 6th
Whitireia6.5% → 5%6.5%Oct 20252.8%Jan 20266th → 7th
UCOL3.9% → 4%4.5%Jan 20263.2%Apr 20269th → 8th
Manukau Institute of Technology4.4% → 3.6%4.4%Oct 20253.6%Apr 20268th → 9th
SIT3.3% → 3.2%4.5%Jan 20262.9%Mar 202610th
NMIT2.6%2.9%Feb 20262.1%Apr 202612th → 11th
EIT2.6% → 2.5%3%Jan 20262.2%Jun 202613th → 12th
WelTec2.6% → 2.5%2.6%Oct 20252%May 202611th → 13th
NorthTec1.9% → 2%2%Aug 20261.5%Dec 202514th

Each finding as a sentence

  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Ara Institute of Canterbury’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand increased from 6.9% to 7.9%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Toi Ohomai’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand increased from 6.3% to 7.5%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Whitireia’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand decreased from 6.5% to 5%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Manukau Institute of Technology’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand decreased from 4.4% to 3.6%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Open Polytechnic’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand peaked at 36.1% in December 2025 and was lowest at 26.1% in March 2026.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Unitec’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand peaked at 14.6% in July 2026 and was lowest at 11.3% in January 2026.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Otago Polytechnic’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand peaked at 11.1% in March 2026 and was lowest at 8.5% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Wintec’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand peaked at 10.2% in May 2026 and was lowest at 7.5% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Ara Institute of Canterbury’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand peaked at 8.3% in March 2026 and was lowest at 5.6% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Toi Ohomai’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand peaked at 8% in March 2026 and was lowest at 6% in April 2026.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Whitireia’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand peaked at 6.5% in October 2025 and was lowest at 2.8% in January 2026.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, UCOL’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand peaked at 4.5% in January 2026 and was lowest at 3.2% in April 2026.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, SIT’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand peaked at 4.5% in January 2026 and was lowest at 2.9% in March 2026.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Toi Ohomai rose from 7th to 6th among polytechnics in New Zealand.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Whitireia fell from 6th to 7th among polytechnics in New Zealand.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, UCOL rose from 9th to 8th among polytechnics in New Zealand.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Manukau Institute of Technology fell from 8th to 9th among polytechnics in New Zealand.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, NMIT rose from 12th to 11th among polytechnics in New Zealand.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, EIT rose from 13th to 12th among polytechnics in New Zealand.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, WelTec fell from 11th to 13th among polytechnics in New Zealand.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Open Polytechnic, Unitec, Otago Polytechnic, Wintec, SIT and NorthTec held steady: their estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

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

  1. In August 2026, Toi Ohomai gained estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand, from 6.2% to 7.5%.

  2. In August 2026, Unitec lost estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand, from 14.6% to 12.4%.

  3. In August 2026, Manukau Institute of Technology lost estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand, from 4.4% to 3.6%.

  4. UCOL’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 3.4% to 4% in August 2026.

  5. WelTec’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 2% to 2.5% in August 2026.

  6. Wintec’s estimated Share of Search among polytechnics in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 10.2% to 8.4% in August 2026.

  7. In August 2026, NMIT rose from 13th to 11th among polytechnics in New Zealand.

  8. In August 2026, EIT fell from 11th to 12th among polytechnics in New Zealand.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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.