Brandwave

Rafting New Zealand vs River Rats:Which is more popular in New Zealand?

In October 2026, Rafting New Zealand had more branded searches than River Rats among white water rafting operators in New Zealand. Rafting New Zealand had about 170 branded searches, while River Rats had 150. Rafting New Zealand made up 2.4% of all white water rafting operator searches we track, and River Rats accounted for 2.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about white water rafting operators, Rafting New Zealand appeared in two of the four answers and River Rats in none.

Among white water rafting operators in New Zealand in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Rafting New Zealand, about 13% more searches than River Rats

Rafting New Zealand 170 searchesRiver Rats 150 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Rafting New Zealand, mentioned in 2 of 4 answers, River Rats in 0

Rafting New Zealand in 2 of 4River Rats in 0 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Rafting New Zealand, the only one of the two named

Rafting New Zealand first in 2River Rats never named

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Top white water rafting operators in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Rafting New Zealand was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. River Rats did not appear in any of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Rotorua Rafting1st
  2. Kaituna Cascades2nd
  3. Rafting New Zealand3rd
  4. Ultimate Descents Aotearoa4th
  5. Queenstown Rafting5th
  6. River Valley–
  7. River Rats–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Rotorua Rafting3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Kaituna Cascades3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Rafting New Zealand2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Ultimate Descents Aotearoa2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Queenstown Rafting1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • River Valley0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • River Rats0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about white water rafting operators

4 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 Rafting New Zealand or River Rats more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Rafting New Zealand and River Rats by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven white water rafting operators we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Rafting New Zealand and River Rats among white water rafting operators in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Rafting New Zealand, River Rats. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthRotorua RaftingRiver ValleyQueenstown RaftingKaituna CascadesRafting New ZealandRiver RatsUltimate Descents Aotearoa
Nov 202562.7%10.2%12%8.7%2.9%2.1%1.3%
Dec 202566.1%7.3%12.2%9%2.5%1.5%1.3%
Jan 202664.1%7.8%11.8%11%2.4%1.8%1.1%
Feb 202660.9%7.5%9.5%16.8%2.3%1.7%1.2%
Mar 202662.6%10.2%11.8%8.4%2.9%2.5%1.5%
Apr 202659.9%10.7%11.5%10.3%2.7%3%1.8%
May 202660%12.1%7.8%10.5%2.2%5.6%1.8%
Jun 202657.1%17%7.5%9.5%3.2%4.6%1.2%
Jul 202659.3%15.9%7.7%8.6%4.1%3.5%0.88%
Aug 202660.4%13.3%9.6%7.6%3.4%5.4%0.25%
Sep 202664%11.8%8.4%8.4%3%3.9%0.64%
Oct 202665.1%12.8%8.5%7.9%2.4%2.2%1%

How has branded search for Rafting New Zealand and River Rats changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand white water rafting operators in October 2026?

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, River Rats lost share of searches among white water rafting operators in New Zealand, from 3.9% to 2.2%.

  2. In October 2026, Rafting New Zealand lost share of searches among white water rafting operators in New Zealand, from 3% to 2.4%.

How are Rafting New Zealand’s and River Rats’ branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Rafting New Zealand’s and River Rats’ 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.

Rafting New Zealand

1 branded search term

  • rafting new zealand

River Rats

3 branded search terms

  • river rats
  • river rats kaituna
  • river rats rafting

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among white water rafting operators

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