AWF vs Populous People:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, AWF had more branded searches than Populous People among hastings recruitment agencies in New Zealand. AWF was estimated to have 4K branded searches compared to Populous People’s 170, and held a 17.9% Share of Search versus Populous People’s 0.76%.
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Which is more popular in search, AWF or Populous People?
Compare Hastings recruitment agencies using branded search demand from across New Zealand. 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 by month for AWF, Populous People. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | OneStaff | Adecco | AWF | Trade Assist | Populous People |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 47.7% | 25.5% | 18% | 7.5% | 1.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 45.1% | 24.6% | 20.7% | 8.6% | 0.99% |
| Dec 2025 | 47.4% | 27.8% | 15.4% | 8.2% | 1.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 45.5% | 27.5% | 17.1% | 9.1% | 0.83% |
| Feb 2026 | 47.4% | 26.2% | 18% | 7.7% | 0.69% |
| Mar 2026 | 43.4% | 29% | 19.9% | 7.2% | 0.63% |
| Apr 2026 | 44.4% | 29% | 19.8% | 5.6% | 1.2% |
| May 2026 | 47.2% | 27.9% | 17.8% | 6.3% | 0.84% |
| Jun 2026 | 47.9% | 28% | 17.9% | 5.2% | 1% |
| Jul 2026 | 44% | 29.9% | 20% | 5.3% | 0.9% |
| Aug 2026 | 44.7% | 29.1% | 17.9% | 7.4% | 0.76% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the AWF and Populous People comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- AWF was ahead of Populous People in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, AWF’s estimated Share of Search among hastings recruitment agencies in New Zealand moved from 18% to 17.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.5K to 4K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Populous People’s estimated Share of Search among hastings recruitment agencies in New Zealand moved from 1.3% to 0.76%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 320 to 170.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand hastings recruitment agencies in August 2026?
2 changes

In August 2026, AWF lost estimated Share of Search among hastings recruitment agencies in New Zealand, from 20% to 17.9%.

Estimated monthly branded searches for Populous People in New Zealand fell 46.9% over 11 measured months, from 320 to 170 in August 2026.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AWF’s and Populous People’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.
AWF
8 branded search terms
- awf
- awf hastings
- awf jobs
- awf labour hire
- awf new zealand
- awf nz
- awf recruitment
- awf whanganui
Populous People
1 branded search term
- populous people

Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.