Brandwave

Colorsteel vs James Hardie:Which is more popular in New Zealand?

In October 2026, James Hardie had more branded searches than Colorsteel among building product brands in New Zealand. James Hardie had about 5,010 branded searches, while Colorsteel had 4,400. James Hardie made up 15.7% of all building product brand searches we track, and Colorsteel accounted for 13.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about building product brands, Colorsteel and James Hardie each appeared in three of the five answers. James Hardie was mentioned before Colorsteel in every answer.

Among building product brands in New Zealand in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

James Hardie, about 14% more searches than Colorsteel

James Hardie 5K searchesColorsteel 4.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

Colorsteel in 3 of 5James Hardie in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

James Hardie, named ahead of Colorsteel in every answer

James Hardie first in 3Colorsteel never first

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Top building product brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Colorsteel and James Hardie were each mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. James Hardie was listed before Colorsteel in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. James Hardie1st
  2. Colorsteel2nd
  3. GIB3rd
  4. Pink Batts4th
  5. Vantage5th
  6. Resene Construction Systems6th
  7. Laminex7th
  8. Abodo8th
  9. Carter Holt Harvey9th
  10. Nelson Pine10th
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • GIB5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • James Hardie3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Colorsteel3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Pink Batts3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Resene Construction Systems2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Vantage2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Steel & Tube1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Laminex1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Abodo1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Carter Holt Harvey1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about building product brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.

Is Colorsteel or James Hardie more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Colorsteel and James Hardie by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 building product brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Colorsteel and James Hardie among building product brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for James Hardie, Colorsteel. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSteel & TubeJames HardieGIBColorsteelLaminexPink BattsAbodoCarter Holt HarveyResene Construction SystemsNelson PineVantage
Nov 202532.3%15.8%9.6%14.2%8.8%5.8%4.3%3.6%2.7%1.5%1.5%
Dec 202534.3%13.7%11.3%14.1%7.5%5.1%4.5%3.9%2.3%1.6%1.5%
Jan 202630.1%14.5%12%16%7.8%5.5%4.3%4%2.5%1.7%1.7%
Feb 202628.6%15.9%10.8%16.6%9.2%5.2%4.4%3.8%2.3%1.6%1.6%
Mar 202628.8%16.1%9.7%15.7%9.1%6.4%4.9%4%2.4%1.6%1.3%
Apr 202627.6%15.3%12.7%14.7%8.9%7.5%4%3.6%2.8%1.5%1.4%
May 202629.9%14.7%11.7%13.7%9.6%6.7%4.3%4.2%2.5%1.4%1.3%
Jun 202629.7%14.8%12.2%13.5%9.6%6.7%4.1%4.3%2.5%1.4%1.3%
Jul 202630.8%14.7%12.1%12.7%9.8%7%4.3%3.4%2.6%1.4%1.2%
Aug 202634.1%15.8%10.7%11.5%9%6.3%3.9%3.9%2.3%1.3%1.3%
Sep 202631.7%15.3%12.1%12.7%10%5.6%4%3.4%2.6%1.4%1.2%
Oct 202627.7%15.7%14.9%13.8%9.1%6%4%3.6%2.3%1.5%1.5%

How has branded search for Colorsteel and James Hardie changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand building product brands in October 2026?

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, GIB overtook Colorsteel to rank 3rd among building product brands in New Zealand, with 14.9% of the searches.

  2. In October 2026, Colorsteel gained share of searches among building product brands in New Zealand, from 12.7% to 13.8%.

How are Colorsteel’s and James Hardie’s branded searches counted?

23 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Colorsteel’s and James Hardie’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.

Colorsteel

9 branded search terms

  • colorsteel
  • colorsteel colours
  • colorsteel dridex
  • colorsteel flashing
  • colorsteel flaxpod
  • colorsteel ironsand
  • colorsteel karaka
  • colorsteel scoria
  • flaxpod colorsteel

James Hardie

14 branded search terms

  • james hardie
  • james hardie axon
  • james hardie board
  • james hardie easylap
  • james hardie flex
  • james hardie linea
  • james hardie plasterboard
  • james hardie soffit
  • james hardie stria
  • james hardie villaboard
  • james hardie weatherboard
  • jameshardie
  • jameshardie board
  • jameshardie cladding

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among building product brands

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