Brandwave

Kernel vs Milford:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?

In August 2026, Kernel and Milford were level on Share of Search among KiwiSaver providers in New Zealand, with an estimated 30.8K versus 32.5K branded searches, at 1.5% and 1.6% estimated Share of Search.

Share of Search among KiwiSaver providers in New Zealand in August 2026Which is more popular in search, Kernel or Milford?
Kernel1.5%30.8K searches
vs
Milford1.6%32.5K searches

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Which is more popular in search, Kernel or Milford?

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.

Kernel and Milford among KiwiSaver providers in New Zealand, by month

Share of Search by month for Milford, Kernel. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of search table
MonthANZASBWestpacBNZFisher FundsMilfordKernelSimplicityGenerate KiwiSaverSuperLifeBoosterAMPMercer KiwiSaverJuno KiwiSaver
Oct 202544.1%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 202539.8%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 202540.5%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 202639.6%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 202636.9%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 202639%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 202639.7%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 202639.4%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 202639.6%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 202637.3%26%19.5%7.8%3%1.6%1.5%1.1%1%0.48%0.31%0.23%0.19%0.02%
Aug 202635.6%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 Kernel and Milford comparison changed over the last 12 months?

  • Milford was ahead of Kernel in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
  • 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.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Milford’s estimated Share of Search among KiwiSaver providers in New Zealand moved from 1.9% to 1.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 45.7K to 32.5K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand KiwiSaver providers in August 2026?

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Kernel in New Zealand rose 50% over 11 measured months, from 20.5K to 30.8K in August 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Milford in New Zealand fell 29% over 11 measured months, from 45.7K to 32.5K in August 2026.

How each brand is measured

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Kernel’s and Milford’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.

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

Milford

31 branded search terms

  • kiwisaver milford
  • milford active growth
  • milford active growth kiwisaver
  • milford asset
  • milford asset kiwisaver
  • milford asset management
  • milford asset management app
  • milford asset management fees
  • milford asset management funds
  • milford asset management kiwisaver
  • milford asset management near me
  • milford asset management nz
  • milford asset management portal
  • milford asset management review
  • milford asset management unit prices
  • milford asset mgmt
  • milford assets kiwisaver
  • milford funds
  • milford funds kiwisaver
  • milford funds limited
  • milford investment
  • milford investment funds
  • milford investment kiwisaver
  • milford investments
  • milford kiwisaver
  • milford kiwisaver active growth fund
  • milford kiwisaver aggressive fund
  • milford kiwisaver nz
  • milford kiwisaver plan
  • milford managed funds
  • www milford asset management

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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