Hiku vs The Whaler:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, Hiku had more branded searches than The Whaler among kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand. Hiku was estimated to have 410 branded searches compared to The Whaler’s 330, and held a 10.6% Share of Search versus The Whaler’s 8.5%.
Follow Hiku vs The Whaler and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Which is more popular in search, Hiku or The Whaler?
Compare restaurants in Kaikōura, 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 Hiku, The Whaler. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | The Pier Hotel | Hiku | The Whaler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 88.7% | 6.2% | 5.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 90.3% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 89.1% | 5.4% | 5.5% |
| Jan 2026 | 88.3% | 6.2% | 5.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 92.6% | 3.8% | 3.6% |
| Mar 2026 | 88.3% | 6% | 5.7% |
| Apr 2026 | 86.8% | 6.7% | 6.5% |
| May 2026 | 82.6% | 9.3% | 8.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 77.8% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 80.5% | 11% | 8.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 80.9% | 10.6% | 8.5% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — |
How has the Hiku and The Whaler comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 4 times in the 11 months ending August 2026: The Whaler took it in December 2025, Hiku took it in January 2026, The Whaler took it in June 2026, Hiku took it in July 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Hiku’s estimated Share of Search among kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand moved from 6.2% to 10.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 420 to 410.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, The Whaler’s estimated Share of Search among kaikōura restaurants in New Zealand moved from 5.1% to 8.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 350 to 330.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand kaikōura restaurants in August 2026?
0 changes
Neither Hiku nor The Whaler moved beyond provider rounding among kaikōura restaurants in August 2026.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hiku’s and The Whaler’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.
Hiku
4 branded search terms
- hiku cafe
- hiku kaikoura
- hiku menu
- hiku restaurant
The Whaler
2 branded search terms
- the whaler kaikoura
- whaler kaikoura
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.