---
title: "Public transport networks in New Zealand: Which brands are most popular in search?"
description: "Compare the city bus, train and ferry networks New Zealanders commute on. Share of Search among Metlink, Auckland Transport, Metro Christchurch, Busit and Baybus, the public transport networks 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-public-transport-networks"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Public transport networks in New Zealand: Which brands are most popular in search?

Compare the city bus, train and ferry networks New Zealanders commute on. Share of Search among Metlink, Auckland Transport, Metro Christchurch, Busit and Baybus, the public transport networks 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**: Public transport networks
- **Market**: New Zealand
- **Brands compared**: 5
- **Month measured**: Aug 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: Metlink, 48.6%

## Which brand is most popular in search among public transport networks in New Zealand?

- In August 2026, Metlink was the most searched among public transport networks in New Zealand, with an estimated 69.2K branded searches and 48.6% estimated Share of Search within this set.
- Auckland Transport is in 2nd place, 8.7 percentage points behind at 39.9% Share of Search.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Metlink’s estimated Share of Search among public transport networks in New Zealand increased from 46.3% to 48.6%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Auckland Transport’s estimated Share of Search among public transport networks in New Zealand decreased from 42% to 39.9%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Metlink’s estimated Share of Search among public transport networks in New Zealand peaked at 53.3% in June 2026 and was lowest at 45.9% in March 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Auckland Transport’s estimated Share of Search among public transport networks in New Zealand peaked at 42.2% in January 2026 and was lowest at 35.9% in June 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Metro Christchurch’s estimated Share of Search among public transport networks in New Zealand peaked at 8.6% in March 2026 and was lowest at 6.8% in June 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Metro Christchurch, Busit and Baybus held steady: their estimated Share of Search among public transport networks in New Zealand each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [Metlink vs Auckland Transport: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/auckland-transport-vs-metlink): 48.6% against 39.9% Share of Search.
- [Metlink vs Metro Christchurch: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/metlink-vs-metro-christchurch): 48.6% against 7.6% Share of Search.
- [Metlink vs Busit: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/busit-vs-metlink): 48.6% against 2.2% Share of Search.
- [Auckland Transport vs Metro Christchurch: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/auckland-transport-vs-metro-christchurch): 39.9% against 7.6% Share of Search.
- [Auckland Transport vs Busit: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/auckland-transport-vs-busit): 39.9% against 2.2% Share of Search.
- [Metro Christchurch vs Busit: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/busit-vs-metro-christchurch): 7.6% against 2.2% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for New Zealand public transport networks in August 2026?

- In August 2026, Auckland Transport gained estimated Share of Search among public transport networks in New Zealand, from 38.9% to 39.9%.
- In August 2026, Metlink lost estimated Share of Search among public transport networks in New Zealand, from 49.2% to 48.6%.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Baybus in New Zealand fell 17.1% over 11 measured months, from 2.9K to 2.4K in August 2026.

## Share of Search ranking

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Metlink | 48.6% | 69.2K | -4.1% | Metlink |
| 2 | Auckland Transport | 39.9% | 56.8K | -0.5% | Auckland Transport |
| 3 | Metro Christchurch | 7.6% | 10.9K | +0.2% | Metro Christchurch |
| 4 | Busit | 2.2% | 3.1K | -18.6% | Busit |
| 5 | Baybus | 1.7% | 2.4K | -17.4% | Baybus |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | Metlink | 69.9K | 46.3% | 1 |
| Oct 2025 | Auckland Transport | 63.5K | 42% | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | Metro Christchurch | 11.7K | 7.7% | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | Busit | 3K | 2% | 4 |
| Oct 2025 | Baybus | 2.9K | 1.9% | 5 |
| Nov 2025 | Metlink | 69.3K | 46.1% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | Auckland Transport | 63.3K | 42.2% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | Metro Christchurch | 11.7K | 7.8% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | Busit | 3K | 2% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | Baybus | 2.9K | 1.9% | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | Metlink | 70.2K | 50.3% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | Auckland Transport | 52.3K | 37.5% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | Metro Christchurch | 11.5K | 8.3% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | Busit | 3.1K | 2.2% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | Baybus | 2.4K | 1.7% | 5 |
| Jan 2026 | Metlink | 70.2K | 46.5% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Auckland Transport | 63.7K | 42.2% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | Metro Christchurch | 11K | 7.3% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | Busit | 3.1K | 2% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | Baybus | 3K | 2% | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | Metlink | 85K | 48.7% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | Auckland Transport | 69.5K | 39.8% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Metro Christchurch | 13.3K | 7.6% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | Busit | 3.8K | 2.2% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | Baybus | 2.9K | 1.7% | 5 |
| Mar 2026 | Metlink | 86K | 45.9% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | Auckland Transport | 76.9K | 41.1% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Metro Christchurch | 16.1K | 8.6% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | Busit | 4.6K | 2.5% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | Baybus | 3.6K | 1.9% | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | Metlink | 88.2K | 51.5% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | Auckland Transport | 63.2K | 36.9% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | Metro Christchurch | 13.2K | 7.7% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | Busit | 3.8K | 2.2% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | Baybus | 2.9K | 1.7% | 5 |
| May 2026 | Metlink | 72.5K | 46.7% | 1 |
| May 2026 | Auckland Transport | 63K | 40.5% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Metro Christchurch | 13.2K | 8.5% | 3 |
| May 2026 | Busit | 3.8K | 2.4% | 4 |
| May 2026 | Baybus | 3K | 1.9% | 5 |
| Jun 2026 | Metlink | 84.2K | 53.3% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | Auckland Transport | 56.6K | 35.9% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Metro Christchurch | 10.8K | 6.8% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | Busit | 3.8K | 2.4% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | Baybus | 2.5K | 1.6% | 5 |
| Jul 2026 | Metlink | 72.2K | 49.2% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | Auckland Transport | 57.1K | 38.9% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | Metro Christchurch | 10.9K | 7.4% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | Busit | 3.8K | 2.6% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | Baybus | 2.9K | 2% | 5 |
| Aug 2026 | Metlink | 69.2K | 48.6% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | Auckland Transport | 56.8K | 39.9% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | Metro Christchurch | 10.9K | 7.6% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | Busit | 3.1K | 2.2% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | Baybus | 2.4K | 1.7% | 5 |
| Sep 2026 | Auckland Transport | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Baybus | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Busit | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Metlink | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Metro Christchurch | — | — | — |

## What is being compared

- **Auckland Transport**: Measured on the search terms “at govt nz”, “at hop”, “at metro”, “auckland transport”, “auckland transport agency”, “auckland transport bus”, “auckland transport bus services”, “auckland transport bus timetable”, “auckland transport ferry”, “auckland transport near me”, “auckland transport nz”, “auckland transport operations centre”, “auckland transport train”, “auckland transport website”, “aucklandtransport” and “www auckland transport”, summed into one figure.
- **Baybus**: Measured on the search terms “baybus”, “baybus co nz” and “baybus near me”, summed into one figure.
- **Busit**: Measured on the search terms “busit”, “busit co nz”, “busit fares”, “busit near me” and “busit nz”, summed into one figure.
- **Metlink**: Measured on the search terms “gold card metlink”, “metlink”, “metlink 1”, “metlink 2”, “metlink 24”, “metlink 25”, “metlink 83”, “metlink bus”, “metlink bus fare”, “metlink bus service”, “metlink bus times”, “metlink fare”, “metlink hutt valley line”, “metlink hvl”, “metlink johnsonville line”, “metlink kpl”, “metlink near me”, “metlink nz”, “metlink online”, “metlink org nz”, “metlink rail”, “metlink train”, “metlink train times”, “metlink wairarapa”, “metlink wairarapa line” and “metlink zones”, summed into one figure.
- **Metro Christchurch**: Measured on the search terms “metro card christchurch”, “metro christchurch”, “metro christchurch bus”, “metro christchurch bus timetable”, “metroinfo” and “metroinfo co nz”, summed into one figure.

- [Auckland Transport](/demand/nz/brands/auckland-transport)
- [Baybus](/demand/nz/brands/baybus)
- [Busit](/demand/nz/brands/busit)
- [Metlink](/demand/nz/brands/metlink)
- [Metro Christchurch](/demand/nz/brands/metro-christchurch)

## Methodology

- [How is branded search demand 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 public transport networks in New Zealand?

In August 2026, Metlink was the most searched among public transport networks in New Zealand, with an estimated 69.2K branded searches and 48.6% estimated Share of Search within this set.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Public transport networks in New Zealand: Which brands are most popular in search?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-public-transport-networks

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