BNZ vs Kernel:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, BNZ had more branded searches than Kernel among KiwiSaver providers in New Zealand. BNZ was estimated to have 153K branded searches compared to Kernel’s 30.8K, and held a 7.4% Share of Search versus Kernel’s 1.5%.
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Which is more popular in search, BNZ or Kernel?
Compare KiwiSaver scheme providers and the fund managers behind them, using branded searches made in 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 BNZ, Kernel. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | ANZ | ASB | Westpac | BNZ | Fisher Funds | Milford | Kernel | Simplicity | Generate KiwiSaver | SuperLife | Booster | AMP | Mercer KiwiSaver | Juno KiwiSaver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 44.1% | 21.2% | 19.3% | 6.6% | 3% | 1.9% | 0.84% | 1% | 0.84% | 0.59% | 0.25% | 0.19% | 0.15% | 0.04% |
| Nov 2025 | 39.8% | 23.1% | 21% | 7.2% | 3.3% | 1.7% | 0.76% | 1.1% | 0.91% | 0.51% | 0.27% | 0.2% | 0.16% | 0.03% |
| Dec 2025 | 40.5% | 23.5% | 21.4% | 7.1% | 2.7% | 1.3% | 0.74% | 0.87% | 0.76% | 0.43% | 0.22% | 0.17% | 0.14% | 0.03% |
| Jan 2026 | 39.6% | 23.2% | 21.1% | 7.1% | 3.3% | 1.6% | 0.94% | 1.1% | 0.93% | 0.51% | 0.27% | 0.21% | 0.16% | 0.03% |
| Feb 2026 | 36.9% | 26.1% | 19.6% | 7.9% | 3.7% | 1.6% | 0.85% | 1.2% | 0.86% | 0.47% | 0.31% | 0.2% | 0.19% | 0.03% |
| Mar 2026 | 39% | 23.2% | 20.7% | 8.3% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 0.85% | 1% | 1.1% | 0.48% | 0.33% | 0.24% | 0.16% | 0.04% |
| Apr 2026 | 39.7% | 23.3% | 21.2% | 7% | 3.3% | 1.4% | 0.98% | 1.1% | 0.91% | 0.49% | 0.27% | 0.2% | 0.17% | 0.03% |
| May 2026 | 39.4% | 22.9% | 20.9% | 7% | 3.3% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.33% | 0.25% | 0.2% | 0.03% |
| Jun 2026 | 39.6% | 23% | 20.8% | 6.9% | 3.3% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1% | 1.1% | 0.51% | 0.33% | 0.24% | 0.2% | 0.02% |
| Jul 2026 | 37.3% | 26% | 19.5% | 7.8% | 3% | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.1% | 1% | 0.48% | 0.31% | 0.23% | 0.19% | 0.02% |
| Aug 2026 | 35.6% | 24.9% | 22.7% | 7.4% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1% | 1% | 0.54% | 0.3% | 0.22% | 0.18% | 0.03% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the BNZ and Kernel comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- BNZ was ahead of Kernel in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, BNZ’s estimated Share of Search among KiwiSaver providers in New Zealand moved from 6.6% to 7.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 159K to 153K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Kernel’s estimated Share of Search among KiwiSaver providers in New Zealand moved from 0.84% to 1.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 20.5K to 30.8K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand KiwiSaver providers in August 2026?
1 change
Estimated monthly branded searches for Kernel in New Zealand rose 50% over 11 measured months, from 20.5K to 30.8K in August 2026.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BNZ’s and Kernel’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.
BNZ
15 branded search terms
- Bank of New Zealand
- bnz
- bnz banking
- bnz credit card
- bnz home loan
- bnz home loans
- bnz kiwisaver
- bnz kiwisaver scheme
- bnz mortgage
- bnz mortgages
- bnz personal loan
- bnz savings
- bnz savings account
- bnz term deposit
- kiwisaver bnz
Kernel
18 branded search terms
- kernel cash fund
- kernel cash plus fund
- kernel fund
- kernel funds
- kernel global 100
- kernel high growth fund
- kernel invest
- kernel investment funds
- kernel kiwisaver
- kernel kiwisaver funds
- kernel nz
- kernel savings account
- kernel total world fund
- kernel wealth
- kernel wealth funds
- kernel wealth kiwisaver
- kernel wealth nz
- kiwisaver kernel
Put your own brand in this comparison
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