Brandwave

Caterpillar vs Kaiwaka:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Kaiwaka had more branded searches than Caterpillar among workwear brands in New Zealand. Kaiwaka had about 9,400 branded searches, while Caterpillar had 50. Kaiwaka made up 19.4% of all workwear brand searches we track, and Caterpillar accounted for 0.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about workwear brands, Kaiwaka appeared in three of the five answers and Caterpillar in none.

Among workwear brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Kaiwaka, about 188 searches for every 1 for Caterpillar

Kaiwaka 9.4K searchesCaterpillar 50 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Kaiwaka, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Caterpillar in 0

Kaiwaka in 3 of 5Caterpillar in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Kaiwaka, the only one of the two named

Kaiwaka first in 3Caterpillar never named

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Top workwear brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kaiwaka was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Caterpillar did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. FXD1st
  2. Hard Yakka2nd
  3. Bisley3rd
  4. Syzmik4th
  5. Kaiwaka5th
  6. Swanndri6th
  7. Bison6th
  8. King Gee8th
  9. Cactus Outdoor9th
  10. +3 more
  11. Caterpillar–
  12. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Hard Yakka5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • FXD5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Bisley5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kaiwaka3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Syzmik3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Swanndri2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Cactus Outdoor2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Bison2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • King Gee1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Caterpillar0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+4 more

See every answer about workwear brands

5 answers

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.

Is Caterpillar or Kaiwaka more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Caterpillar and Kaiwaka by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 14 workwear brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Caterpillar and Kaiwaka among workwear brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Kaiwaka, Caterpillar. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSwanndriKaiwakaCarhartt WIPCactus OutdoorBisonHard YakkaFXDBisleySyzmikDickiesKing GeePortwestCaterpillarMongrel
Oct 202530.9%19.1%19.5%11%5.9%4.1%2.5%2.4%1.3%1.8%0.89%0.59%0.14%0.06%
Nov 202538.6%20%17.4%7.9%4.3%3.7%2%2.1%1.1%1.2%0.84%0.5%0.16%0.05%
Dec 202533.1%28.7%18.3%8%3.4%2.8%1.3%1.5%0.74%1%0.64%0.29%0.09%0.04%
Jan 202625.6%27.1%20.2%10.9%3.8%4.1%2.2%2.2%1.2%1.3%0.69%0.4%0.1%0.08%
Feb 202628.9%24.2%19.6%9.8%4.2%4.6%2.1%2.3%1.1%1.4%0.98%0.51%0.11%0.09%
Mar 202633.5%19.5%19.2%11.5%3.3%3.6%2.3%2.1%1.3%1.8%0.99%0.61%0.09%0.05%
Apr 202641.3%17.6%18.1%9.5%2.7%2.8%1.8%1.6%0.87%2.2%0.72%0.59%0.1%0.06%
May 202642.1%17%16.5%9.5%3.5%2.9%2%1.9%1.1%2.3%0.63%0.62%0.1%0.04%
Jun 202647.3%14.1%15.5%8.8%3.2%3.1%2%1.7%1.1%2.1%0.5%0.56%0.07%0.05%
Jul 202642.6%14.4%16.5%9.5%6.3%2.9%2%2%1.3%1.4%0.55%0.52%0.1%0.04%
Aug 202640.8%16.3%18.2%8.8%3.9%2.8%2.4%2.1%1.5%1.4%0.94%0.72%0.11%0.03%
Sep 202634%19.4%19.2%9.1%5%3.6%2.8%2.3%1.5%1.4%0.97%0.66%0.1%0.06%

How has the Caterpillar and Kaiwaka comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Kaiwaka was ahead of Caterpillar in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Caterpillar’s share of searches among workwear brands in New Zealand moved from 0.14% to 0.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 70 to 50.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kaiwaka’s share of searches among workwear brands in New Zealand moved from 19.1% to 19.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 9.4K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand workwear brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Kaiwaka overtook Carhartt WIP to rank 2nd among workwear brands in New Zealand, with 19.4% of the searches.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Caterpillar in New Zealand fell 28.6% over 12 measured months, from 70 to 50 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Caterpillar’s and Kaiwaka’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.

Caterpillar

1 branded search term

  • caterpillar workwear

Kaiwaka

2 branded search terms

  • kaiwaka
  • kaiwaka clothing

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among workwear brands

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