Southern Institute of Technology vs Unitec:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Unitec had more branded searches than Southern Institute of Technology among polytechnics in New Zealand. Unitec had about 12,500 branded searches, while Southern Institute of Technology had 3,600. Unitec made up 9.6% of all polytechnic searches we track, and Southern Institute of Technology accounted for 2.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about polytechnics, Unitec appeared in all five answers and Southern Institute of Technology in three. Unitec was mentioned before Southern Institute of Technology in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Unitec, about 3 searches for every 1 for Southern Institute of Technology
Who does AI mention more?
Unitec, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Unitec, named ahead of Southern Institute of Technology in 4 of 5 answers
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Top polytechnics in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Unitec appeared in all five answers. 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. Unitec was listed before Southern Institute of Technology in four out of five answers.
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- WelTec2 of 5Named in 1 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 Southern Institute of Technology or Unitec more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Southern Institute of Technology and Unitec 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 Unitec, Southern Institute of Technology. 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 Southern Institute of Technology and Unitec comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Unitec was ahead of Southern Institute of Technology in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- 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.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Unitec’s share of searches among polytechnics in New Zealand moved from 8.8% to 9.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 12.5K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand polytechnics in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Unitec gained share of searches among polytechnics in New Zealand, from 8.8% to 9.6%.
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?
8 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Southern Institute of Technology’s and Unitec’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.
Southern Institute of Technology
1 branded search term
- southern institute of technology
Unitec
7 branded search terms
- unitec
- unitec courses
- unitec enrol
- unitec gym
- unitec library hours
- unitec sports centre
- unitec study
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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