Brandwave

Populous People vs Rural Directions Recruitment & HR:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Populous People had more branded searches than Rural Directions Recruitment & HR among Hastings recruitment agencies in New Zealand. Populous People had about 30 branded searches, while Rural Directions Recruitment & HR had 20. Populous People made up 4.1% of all Hastings recruitment agency searches we track, and Rural Directions Recruitment & HR accounted for 2.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about Hastings recruitment agencies, Rural Directions Recruitment & HR appeared in two of the three answers and Populous People in none.

Among Hastings recruitment agencies in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Populous People, about 50% more searches than Rural Directions Recruitment & HR

Populous People 30 searchesRural Directions Recruitment & HR 20 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Rural Directions Recruitment & HR, mentioned in 2 of 3 answers, Populous People in 0

Rural Directions Recruitment & HR in 2 of 3Populous People in 0 of 3

Who does AI recommend more?

Rural Directions Recruitment & HR, the only one of the two named

Rural Directions Recruitment & HR first in 2Populous People never named

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Top Hastings recruitment agencies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions, Rural Directions Recruitment & HR was mentioned in two out of three: in two of the three ChatGPT answers. Populous People did not appear in any of the three answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. OneStaff1st
  2. Adecco2nd
  3. Able Personnel3rd
  4. Tradestaff4th
  5. Rural Directions Recruitment & HR5th
  6. Trade Assist6th
  7. AWF–
  8. Populous People–

Mentioned by AI

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

See every answer about Hastings recruitment agencies

3 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 Populous People or Rural Directions Recruitment & HR more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Populous People and Rural Directions Recruitment & HR by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight Hastings recruitment agencies we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Populous People and Rural Directions Recruitment & HR among Hastings recruitment agencies in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Populous People, Rural Directions Recruitment & HR. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthOneStaffAdeccoTrade AssistTradestaffAWFPopulous PeopleAble PersonnelRural Directions Recruitment & HR
Oct 202530%21.3%13.8%8.8%10%8.8%3.8%3.8%
Nov 202523.4%27%24.3%9.9%6.3%4.5%2.7%1.8%
Dec 202525%25%23.8%8.3%7.1%6%2.4%2.4%
Jan 202628.6%18.8%30.4%9.8%3.6%4.5%2.7%1.8%
Feb 202627%22.5%18%15.7%6.7%5.6%1.1%3.4%
Mar 202626.9%17.2%15.1%15.1%18.3%3.2%1.1%3.2%
Apr 202634.1%20%11.8%8.2%11.8%8.2%2.4%3.5%
May 202630.9%25%10.3%13.2%7.4%7.4%4.4%1.5%
Jun 202628.6%23.8%11.9%16.7%9.5%6%2.4%1.2%
Jul 202626.8%21.1%15.5%19.7%7%5.6%1.4%2.8%
Aug 202635.4%22.8%16.5%11.4%5.1%3.8%1.3%3.8%
Sep 202636.5%17.6%13.5%12.2%10.8%4.1%2.7%2.7%

How has the Populous People and Rural Directions Recruitment & HR comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand Hastings recruitment agencies in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Able Personnel overtook Rural Directions Recruitment & HR to rank 7th among Hastings recruitment agencies in New Zealand, with 2.7% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Rural Directions Recruitment & HR lost share of searches among Hastings recruitment agencies in New Zealand, from 3.8% to 2.7%.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Populous People in New Zealand fell 57.1% over 12 measured months, from 70 to 30 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Populous People’s and Rural Directions Recruitment & HR’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.

Populous People

1 branded search term

  • populous people

Rural Directions Recruitment & HR

1 branded search term

  • rural directions

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among Hastings recruitment agencies

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