--- title: "Rafting New Zealand vs River Rats: Which is more popular in New Zealand?" description: "Is Rafting New Zealand or River Rats more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the White water rafting operators set 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." canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/compare/rafting-new-zealand-vs-river-rats" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # Rafting New Zealand vs River Rats: Which is more popular in New Zealand? Is Rafting New Zealand or River Rats more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the White water rafting operators set 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. ## Key facts - **Compared**: Rafting New Zealand and River Rats - **Competitive set**: White water rafting operators - **Market**: New Zealand - **Month measured**: Oct 2026 - **Rafting New Zealand Share of Search**: 2.4% - **River Rats Share of Search**: 2.2% ## Is Rafting New Zealand or River Rats more popular in search? - 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%. - The lead changed hands 4 times in the 12 months ending October 2026: River Rats took it in April 2026, Rafting New Zealand took it in July 2026, River Rats took it in August 2026, Rafting New Zealand took it in October 2026. - Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Rafting New Zealand’s share of searches among white water rafting operators in New Zealand moved from 2.9% to 2.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 320 to 170. - Across the 12 months ending October 2026, River Rats’ share of searches among white water rafting operators in New Zealand moved from 2.1% to 2.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 230 to 150. ## 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. Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options. | Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Rotorua Rafting | 1st | 3 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 4 | | Kaituna Cascades | 2nd | 3 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 4 | | Rafting New Zealand | 3rd | 2 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 4 | | Ultimate Descents Aotearoa | 4th | 2 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 4 | | Queenstown Rafting | 5th | 1 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 4 | | River Valley | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 4 | | River Rats | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 4 | ## Every AI answer about white water rafting operators - Asked ChatGPT "Which white water rafting operator should I book in New Zealand?": 1. Rotorua Rafting, 2. Kaituna Cascades, 3. Rafting New Zealand, 4. Ultimate Descents Aotearoa - Asked ChatGPT "What are the best white water rafting operators in New Zealand?": 1. Rotorua Rafting, 2. Kaituna Cascades, 3. Rafting New Zealand, 4. Queenstown Rafting, 5. Ultimate Descents Aotearoa - Asked ChatGPT "What's the best white water rafting operator in New Zealand for an adventurous day out?": 1. Rotorua Rafting, 2. Kaituna Cascades - Searched Google, AI Overview "family rafting trip": named none of the brands we track Not named in any answer: River Valley and River Rats. Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in New Zealand on October 21, 2026. ## How did search popularity change for New Zealand white water rafting operators in October 2026? - In October 2026, River Rats lost share of searches among white water rafting operators in New Zealand, from 3.9% to 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 has branded search for Rafting New Zealand and River Rats changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months? | Month | Rafting New Zealand estimated searches | Rafting New Zealand Share of Search | Rafting New Zealand rank | River Rats estimated searches | River Rats Share of Search | River Rats rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Nov 2025 | 320 | 2.9% | 5 | 230 | 2.1% | 6 | | Dec 2025 | 390 | 2.5% | 5 | 230 | 1.5% | 6 | | Jan 2026 | 390 | 2.4% | 5 | 290 | 1.8% | 6 | | Feb 2026 | 320 | 2.3% | 5 | 230 | 1.7% | 6 | | Mar 2026 | 320 | 2.9% | 5 | 280 | 2.5% | 6 | | Apr 2026 | 210 | 2.7% | 6 | 230 | 3% | 5 | | May 2026 | 110 | 2.2% | 6 | 280 | 5.6% | 5 | | Jun 2026 | 110 | 3.2% | 6 | 160 | 4.6% | 5 | | Jul 2026 | 140 | 4.1% | 5 | 120 | 3.5% | 6 | | Aug 2026 | 140 | 3.4% | 6 | 220 | 5.4% | 5 | | Sep 2026 | 140 | 3% | 6 | 180 | 3.9% | 5 | | Oct 2026 | 170 | 2.4% | 5 | 150 | 2.2% | 6 | ## How are Rafting New Zealand’s and River Rats’ branded searches counted? 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**: Measured on the search term “rafting new zealand”. - **River Rats**: Measured on the search terms “river rats”, “river rats kaituna” and “river rats rafting”, summed into one figure. - [Rafting New Zealand profile](/demand/nz/brands/rafting-new-zealand) - [River Rats profile](/demand/nz/brands/river-rats) - [All white water rafting operators in New Zealand](/demand/nz/categories/nz-white-water-rafting): The set both shares are measured inside, 7 brands. ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Rafting New Zealand or River Rats more popular in search? 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%. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "Rafting New Zealand vs River Rats: Which is more popular in New Zealand?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/compare/rafting-new-zealand-vs-river-rats This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/compare/rafting-new-zealand-vs-river-rats. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.