Private equity firms in New Zealand:Which are most popular?

Name: Private equity firms in New Zealand: Which are searched most?
Creator: Brandwave
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In October 2026, Castlerock was the most searched private equity firm in New Zealand, accounting for 52.8% of all searches among the eight firms tracked by the Brandwave Brand Demand Index. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Direct Capital and Pioneer Capital were mentioned most often, in four of the five answers. Direct Capital was recommended most often, coming first in four out of five responses.

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Top private equity firms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Direct Capital and Pioneer Capital were mentioned most often, in four of the five answers. Direct Capital was recommended most often, coming first in four out of five answers. Waterman Capital was second, and Pencarrow Private Equity was third. Adamantem Capital, which ranked sixth 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.

How many AI answers named each brand
Brand	ChatGPT	Google	Answers that named it
Direct Capital	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	4 of 5
Pioneer Capital	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	4 of 5
Waterman Capital	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	3 of 5
Pencarrow Private Equity	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	3 of 5
Castlerock	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	2 of 5
Adamantem Capital	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	0 of 5
Anchorage Capital Partners	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	0 of 5
Maui Capital	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	0 of 5

Direct Capital4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Pioneer Capital4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Waterman Capital3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Pencarrow Private Equity3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Castlerock2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Adamantem Capital0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Anchorage Capital Partners0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Maui Capital0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about private equity firms

5 answers

Asked ChatGPT
“Which private equity firm should I hire in New Zealand?”
1. 1Waterman Capital
2. 2Pioneer Capital
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best private equity firms in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best private equity firm in New Zealand for a business sale?”
1. 1Direct Capital
2. 2Pioneer Capital
Searched Google, AI Overview
“private equity firms nz”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“private equity nz”

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 private equity firms do people search for most?

This chart shows how often people search Google for each private equity firm by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight private equity firms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand, by month

Month	Castlerock	Waterman Capital	Direct Capital	Pioneer Capital	Pencarrow Private Equity	Adamantem Capital	Anchorage Capital Partners	Maui Capital
Nov 2025	58.4%	9.5%	11.7%	9.5%	6.3%	1.7%	1.7%	1.2%
Dec 2025	70.3%	5.1%	11.5%	5.1%	2.7%	3.3%	1.2%	0.78%
Jan 2026	71.8%	6.4%	6.4%	6.4%	4.2%	1.7%	1.7%	1.2%
Feb 2026	60%	9.8%	9.8%	8%	6.5%	2.3%	2.5%	1.3%
Mar 2026	50.1%	12.7%	10.3%	10.3%	8.4%	3.7%	2.1%	2.4%
Apr 2026	60.2%	8%	8%	8%	6.5%	5.3%	2.3%	1.8%
May 2026	53.5%	11%	11%	11%	7.3%	2.5%	2.3%	1.4%
Jun 2026	54.4%	11.2%	11.2%	9.2%	7.4%	3.2%	2%	1.4%
Jul 2026	55.9%	7.6%	11.5%	11.5%	6.2%	2.1%	3.8%	1.5%
Aug 2026	57.1%	11.4%	9.3%	11.4%	6.2%	0.95%	1.9%	1.7%
Sep 2026	53.1%	8.9%	16.5%	10.9%	5.9%	0.84%	2.5%	1.4%
Oct 2026	52.8%	16.4%	8.9%	8.9%	7.2%	2.5%	2.2%	1.1%

Rank	Brand	Share of searches	Estimated monthly branded searches	vs prior month	Share change
1, held 1st	Castlerock	52.8%	1.9K	0%	-0.3 points
2, moved from 4th to 2nd	Waterman Capital	16.4%	590	+84.4%	+7.5 pointsmoved from 4th to 2nd
3, moved from 2nd to 3rd	Direct Capital	8.9%	320	-45.8%	-7.6 pointsmoved from 2nd to 3rd
4, moved from 3rd to 4th	Pioneer Capital	8.9%	320	-17.9%	-2 pointsmoved from 3rd to 4th
5, held 5th	Pencarrow Private Equity	7.2%	260	+23.8%	+1.4 points
6, moved from 8th to 6th	Adamantem Capital	2.5%	90	+200%	+1.7 pointsmoved from 8th to 6th
7, moved from 6th to 7th	Anchorage Capital Partners	2.2%	80	-11.1%	-0.3 pointsmoved from 6th to 7th
8, moved from 7th to 8th	Maui Capital	1.1%	40	-20%	-0.3 pointsmoved from 7th to 8th

1.Castlerock
52.8%
Held 1st. 1.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.
2.Waterman Capital
16.4%
Moved from 4th to 2nd. 590 estimated branded searches, +84.4% vs prior month. Share +7.5 points.
3.Direct Capital
8.9%
Moved from 2nd to 3rd. 320 estimated branded searches, -45.8% vs prior month. Share -7.6 points.
4.Pioneer Capital
8.9%
Moved from 3rd to 4th. 320 estimated branded searches, -17.9% vs prior month. Share -2 points.
5.Pencarrow Private Equity
7.2%
Held 5th. 260 estimated branded searches, +23.8% vs prior month. Share +1.4 points.
6.Adamantem Capital
2.5%
Moved from 8th to 6th. 90 estimated branded searches, +200% vs prior month. Share +1.7 points.
7.Anchorage Capital Partners
2.2%
Moved from 6th to 7th. 80 estimated branded searches, -11.1% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.
8.Maui Capital
1.1%
Moved from 7th to 8th. 40 estimated branded searches, -20% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

Which brand is most popular in search among private equity firms in New Zealand?

8 brands

In October 2026, Castlerock was the most searched among private equity firms in New Zealand, with an estimated 1.9K branded searches, 52.8% of all searches for the eight tracked by the Brandwave Brand Demand Index. Waterman Capital is in 2nd place, 36.4 percentage points behind at 16.4%.

New Zealand private equity firms, last 12 months ending October 2026
Brand	Share of searches	Peak	Low	Rank
Castlerock	58.4% → 52.8%	71.8%Jan 2026	50.1%Mar 2026	1st
Waterman Capital	9.5% → 16.4%	16.4%Oct 2026	5.1%Dec 2025	4th → 2nd
Direct Capital	11.7% → 8.9%	16.5%Sep 2026	6.4%Jan 2026	2nd → 3rd
Pioneer Capital	9.5% → 8.9%	11.5%Jul 2026	5.1%Dec 2025	3rd → 4th
Pencarrow Private Equity	6.3% → 7.2%	8.4%Mar 2026	2.7%Dec 2025	5th
Adamantem Capital	1.7% → 2.5%	5.3%Apr 2026	0.84%Sep 2026	6th
Anchorage Capital Partners	1.7% → 2.2%	3.8%Jul 2026	1.2%Dec 2025	7th
Maui Capital	1.2% → 1.1%	2.4%Mar 2026	0.78%Dec 2025	8th

Each finding as a sentence

Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Castlerock’s share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand decreased from 58.4% to 52.8%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Waterman Capital’s share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand increased from 9.5% to 16.4%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Direct Capital’s share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand decreased from 11.7% to 8.9%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Pioneer Capital’s share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand decreased from 9.5% to 8.9%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Pencarrow Private Equity’s share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand increased from 6.3% to 7.2%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Adamantem Capital’s share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand increased from 1.7% to 2.5%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Anchorage Capital Partners’ share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand increased from 1.7% to 2.2%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Castlerock’s share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand peaked at 71.8% in January 2026 and was lowest at 50.1% in March 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Waterman Capital’s share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand peaked at 16.4% in October 2026 and was lowest at 5.1% in December 2025.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Direct Capital’s share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand peaked at 16.5% in September 2026 and was lowest at 6.4% in January 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Pioneer Capital’s share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand peaked at 11.5% in July 2026 and was lowest at 5.1% in December 2025.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Pencarrow Private Equity’s share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand peaked at 8.4% in March 2026 and was lowest at 2.7% in December 2025.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Adamantem Capital’s share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand peaked at 5.3% in April 2026 and was lowest at 0.84% in September 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Anchorage Capital Partners’ share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand peaked at 3.8% in July 2026 and was lowest at 1.2% in December 2025.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Maui Capital’s share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand peaked at 2.4% in March 2026 and was lowest at 0.78% in December 2025.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Waterman Capital rose from 4th to 2nd among private equity firms in New Zealand.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Direct Capital fell from 2nd to 3rd among private equity firms in New Zealand.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Pioneer Capital fell from 3rd to 4th among private equity firms in New Zealand.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Maui Capital held steady: its share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand private equity firms in October 2026?

8 changes

In October 2026, Waterman Capital overtook Direct Capital and Pioneer Capital to rank 2nd among private equity firms in New Zealand, with 16.4% of the searches.
In October 2026, Adamantem Capital overtook Anchorage Capital Partners and Maui Capital to rank 6th among private equity firms in New Zealand, with 2.5% of the searches.
In October 2026, Pencarrow Private Equity gained share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand, from 5.9% to 7.2%.
In October 2026, Direct Capital lost share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand, from 16.5% to 8.9%.
In October 2026, Pioneer Capital lost share of searches among private equity firms in New Zealand, from 10.9% to 8.9%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Anchorage Capital Partners in New Zealand rose 14.3% over 12 measured months, from 70 to 80 in October 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Castlerock in New Zealand fell 20.8% over 12 measured months, from 2.4K to 1.9K in October 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Maui Capital in New Zealand fell 20% over 12 measured months, from 50 to 40 in October 2026.

How are branded searches counted for private equity firms?

9 search terms

Each brand's share of searches among private equity firms comes from the terms listed under its name. When people mostly search for a brand because of something else it sells, only the searches that name this product count here.