ASB Waterfront Theatre vs Circa Theatre:Which is more popular in New Zealand?
In October 2026, ASB Waterfront Theatre had more branded searches than Circa Theatre among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand. ASB Waterfront Theatre had about 12,100 branded searches, while Circa Theatre had 4,520. ASB Waterfront Theatre made up 15.2% of all theatres and performing arts venue searches we track, and Circa Theatre accounted for 5.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about theatres and performing arts venues, ASB Waterfront Theatre appeared in three of the four answers and Circa Theatre in two. ASB Waterfront Theatre was mentioned before Circa Theatre in two out of three answers.
Who do people search for more?
ASB Waterfront Theatre, about 3 searches for every 1 for Circa Theatre
Who does AI mention more?
ASB Waterfront Theatre, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, Circa Theatre in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
ASB Waterfront Theatre, named ahead of Circa Theatre in 2 of 3 answers
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Top theatres and performing arts venues in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, ASB Waterfront Theatre was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Circa Theatre was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. ASB Waterfront Theatre was listed before Circa Theatre in two out of three answers.
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.
The Civic4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Isaac Theatre Royal4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers- St James Theatre4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- ASB Waterfront Theatre3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Q Theatre2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Circa Theatre2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- Auckland Theatre Company2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Court Theatre1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers- Auckland Live1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
BATS Theatre1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about theatres and performing arts venues
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which theatre or venue should I book in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best theatre or venue in New Zealand for a night out?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“wellington theatre shows”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“theatres and performing arts venues”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is ASB Waterfront Theatre or Circa Theatre more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for ASB Waterfront Theatre and Circa Theatre by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten theatres and performing arts venues we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for ASB Waterfront Theatre, Circa Theatre. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | The Civic | ASB Waterfront Theatre | Q Theatre | Isaac Theatre Royal | Court Theatre | St James Theatre | Auckland Live | Circa Theatre | Auckland Theatre Company | BATS Theatre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 19.3% | 10.6% | 8.9% | 16.4% | 13.1% | 8.6% | 9% | 7.3% | 3.8% | 3.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 22.5% | 8.2% | 8.4% | 12.7% | 18.6% | 5.4% | 10.3% | 8.5% | 3% | 2.5% |
| Jan 2026 | 15.7% | 7% | 5.9% | 13.4% | 29% | 7% | 7.5% | 8.8% | 3.8% | 2% |
| Feb 2026 | 16.8% | 13.8% | 7.8% | 17.4% | 11.3% | 7.5% | 8.4% | 7.8% | 4.1% | 5.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 16.7% | 7.5% | 9.6% | 21.3% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 6.9% | 7.7% | 3.3% | 2.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 19.2% | 10.5% | 11.2% | 13.4% | 10.5% | 10.5% | 8.5% | 8.8% | 4.9% | 2.5% |
| May 2026 | 16% | 7.1% | 20.3% | 13.7% | 11.8% | 10.7% | 6.6% | 5.9% | 4.1% | 3.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 20.8% | 11.4% | 8% | 14.7% | 12.8% | 9.3% | 8.6% | 6.4% | 5.2% | 2.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 22.7% | 4.4% | 13% | 8.8% | 17.7% | 6.7% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 4.6% | 3% |
| Aug 2026 | 21.9% | 12% | 10.2% | 15.2% | 10.4% | 5.3% | 8.9% | 10.1% | 3.6% | 2.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 23.7% | 10.6% | 11% | 11.1% | 11% | 10.6% | 9% | 7.2% | 3.2% | 2.5% |
| Oct 2026 | 22.7% | 15.2% | 10.6% | 10.5% | 10.3% | 10.2% | 8% | 5.7% | 3.7% | 3.1% |
How has branded search for ASB Waterfront Theatre and Circa Theatre changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 6 times in the 12 months ending October 2026: Circa Theatre took it in December 2025, ASB Waterfront Theatre took it in February 2026, Circa Theatre took it in March 2026, ASB Waterfront Theatre took it in April 2026, Circa Theatre took it in July 2026, ASB Waterfront Theatre took it in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, ASB Waterfront Theatre’s share of searches among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand moved from 10.6% to 15.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 8.1K to 12.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Circa Theatre’s share of searches among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand moved from 7.3% to 5.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.6K to 4.5K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand theatres and performing arts venues in October 2026?
2 changes
In October 2026, ASB Waterfront Theatre overtook Isaac Theatre Royal and 2 others to rank 2nd among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand, with 15.2% of the searches.
In October 2026, Circa Theatre lost share of searches among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand, from 7.2% to 5.7%.
How are ASB Waterfront Theatre’s and Circa Theatre’s branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using ASB Waterfront Theatre’s and Circa Theatre’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
ASB Waterfront Theatre
1 branded search term
- asb waterfront theatre
Circa Theatre
3 branded search terms
- circa theatre
- circa theatre shows
- circa theatre tickets
Other head-to-heads among theatres and performing arts venues
- The Civic vs ASB Waterfront Theatre: compare popularity
- The Civic vs Q Theatre: compare popularity
- The Civic vs Isaac Theatre Royal: compare popularity
- The Civic vs Court Theatre: compare popularity
- ASB Waterfront Theatre vs Q Theatre: compare popularity
- ASB Waterfront Theatre vs Isaac Theatre Royal: compare popularity
Put your own brand in this comparison
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