NorthTec vs Southern Institute of Technology:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Southern Institute of Technology had more branded searches than NorthTec among polytechnics in New Zealand. Southern Institute of Technology had about 3,600 branded searches, while NorthTec had 2,070. Southern Institute of Technology made up 2.8% of all polytechnic searches we track, and NorthTec accounted for 1.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about polytechnics, Southern Institute of Technology appeared in three of the five answers and NorthTec in one. Southern Institute of Technology was mentioned before NorthTec in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Southern Institute of Technology, about 74% more searches than NorthTec
Who does AI mention more?
Southern Institute of Technology, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, NorthTec in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Southern Institute of Technology, named ahead of NorthTec in 2 of 3 answers
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Top polytechnics in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Southern Institute of Technology was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. NorthTec was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Southern Institute of Technology was listed before NorthTec in two out of three answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Unitec5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Otago Polytechnic4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Ara Institute of Canterbury4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Open Polytechnic3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Wintec3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Manukau Institute of Technology3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- SIT3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Southern Institute of Technology3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Whitireia2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
NorthTec1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about polytechnics
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which polytechnic should I go to in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best polytechnics in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best polytechnic in New Zealand for vocational study?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“polytechnics nz”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“diploma courses nz”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.
Is NorthTec or Southern Institute of Technology more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for NorthTec and Southern Institute of Technology by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 polytechnics we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Southern Institute of Technology, NorthTec. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Open Polytechnic | Otago Polytechnic | Unitec | Toi Ohomai | Ara Institute of Canterbury | Wintec | Whitireia | Manukau Institute of Technology | SIT | UCOL | Southern Institute of Technology | NMIT | WelTec | NorthTec | EIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 30.6% | 10.7% | 8.8% | 6.6% | 7.4% | 7.2% | 6.6% | 4.7% | 3.6% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 0.26% |
| Nov 2025 | 33.1% | 9.5% | 9.6% | 6.8% | 7.2% | 7.8% | 5.3% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 3% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 0.22% |
| Dec 2025 | 38.5% | 9.1% | 9.2% | 6.6% | 6.1% | 6.2% | 2.7% | 4.1% | 4.5% | 3.4% | 3.9% | 2.2% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.26% |
| Jan 2026 | 34.5% | 10% | 8.2% | 7.1% | 6.7% | 6.8% | 2.6% | 4.4% | 4.9% | 3.8% | 4.3% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.34% |
| Feb 2026 | 28.3% | 9.9% | 10% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 8.2% | 5.1% | 4.4% | 3.2% | 3.8% | 2.9% | 3% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 0.24% |
| Mar 2026 | 27.9% | 12% | 9.8% | 8.6% | 8.9% | 6.6% | 6.1% | 4.3% | 3.2% | 3% | 2.8% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.7% | 0.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 35.7% | 10.3% | 8.5% | 6.3% | 8.1% | 7% | 5.2% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 2.6% | 3% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 0.21% |
| May 2026 | 30.6% | 10.9% | 8.9% | 7.8% | 8.1% | 8.9% | 5.5% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 2.7% | 3.1% | 2.2% | 2% | 1.5% | 0.26% |
| Jun 2026 | 30.9% | 10.9% | 9% | 7.9% | 7.8% | 7.4% | 4.8% | 4% | 4.4% | 2.8% | 3.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 0.27% |
| Jul 2026 | 30.3% | 10.7% | 10.8% | 6.7% | 8.6% | 7.2% | 4.8% | 4.7% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.24% |
| Aug 2026 | 30.3% | 10.8% | 8.8% | 8% | 8.6% | 7.2% | 5.1% | 3.9% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 2.6% | 2.5% | 1.8% | 0.23% |
| Sep 2026 | 33.1% | 9.7% | 9.6% | 8.8% | 8.4% | 6.5% | 5.1% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 0.24% |
How has the NorthTec and Southern Institute of Technology comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Southern Institute of Technology was ahead of NorthTec in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NorthTec’s share of searches among polytechnics in New Zealand moved from 1.8% to 1.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.6K to 2.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Southern Institute of Technology’s share of searches among polytechnics in New Zealand moved from 3.1% to 2.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.4K to 3.6K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand polytechnics in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for NorthTec in New Zealand fell 20.7% over 12 measured months, from 2.6K to 2.1K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Southern Institute of Technology in New Zealand fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 4.4K to 3.6K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using NorthTec’s and Southern Institute of Technology’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.
NorthTec
2 branded search terms
- northtec
- northtec courses
Southern Institute of Technology
1 branded search term
- southern institute of technology
Other head-to-heads among polytechnics
- Open Polytechnic vs Otago Polytechnic: compare popularity
- Open Polytechnic vs Unitec: compare popularity
Open Polytechnic vs Toi Ohomai: compare popularity- Open Polytechnic vs Ara Institute of Canterbury: compare popularity
- Otago Polytechnic vs Unitec: compare popularity
- Otago Polytechnic vs Toi Ohomai: compare popularity
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