Brandwave

Rafting New Zealand vs Ultimate Descents Aotearoa:Which is more popular in New Zealand?

In October 2026, Rafting New Zealand had more branded searches than Ultimate Descents Aotearoa among white water rafting operators in New Zealand. Rafting New Zealand had about 170 branded searches, while Ultimate Descents Aotearoa had 70. Rafting New Zealand made up 2.4% of all white water rafting operator searches we track, and Ultimate Descents Aotearoa accounted for 1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about white water rafting operators, Rafting New Zealand and Ultimate Descents Aotearoa each appeared in two of the four answers. Rafting New Zealand was mentioned before Ultimate Descents Aotearoa in every answer that named either.

Among white water rafting operators in New Zealand in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Rafting New Zealand, about 2 searches for every 1 for Ultimate Descents Aotearoa

Rafting New Zealand 170 searchesUltimate Descents Aotearoa 70 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 4 answers.

Rafting New Zealand in 2 of 4Ultimate Descents Aotearoa in 2 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Rafting New Zealand, named ahead of Ultimate Descents Aotearoa in 2 of 2 answers

Rafting New Zealand first in 2Ultimate Descents Aotearoa never first

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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 and Ultimate Descents Aotearoa were each mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Rafting New Zealand was listed before Ultimate Descents Aotearoa in every answer that named either.

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 Ultimate Descents Aotearoa more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Rafting New Zealand and Ultimate Descents Aotearoa 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 Ultimate Descents Aotearoa among white water rafting operators in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Rafting New Zealand, Ultimate Descents Aotearoa. 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 Ultimate Descents Aotearoa 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, Rafting New Zealand lost share of searches among white water rafting operators in New Zealand, from 3% to 2.4%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Ultimate Descents Aotearoa in New Zealand fell 50% over 12 measured months, from 140 to 70 in October 2026.

How are Rafting New Zealand’s and Ultimate Descents Aotearoa’s branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Rafting New Zealand’s and Ultimate Descents Aotearoa’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.

Rafting New Zealand

1 branded search term

  • rafting new zealand

Ultimate Descents Aotearoa

1 branded search term

  • ultimate descents aotearoa

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among white water rafting operators

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