Special Group vs VML:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, Special Group had more branded searches than VML among creative and integrated agencies in New Zealand. Special Group was estimated to have 640 branded searches compared to VML’s 440, and held a 6.2% Share of Search versus VML’s 4.2%.
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Which is more popular in search, Special Group or VML?
Creative advertising, brand and integrated marketing agencies. 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.
Share of Search by month for Special Group, VML. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Stanley St | Bastion | McCann New Zealand | TBWA\New Zealand | Saatchi & Saatchi | Special Group | Colenso BBDO | VML | Chemistry | Motion Sickness | Ogilvy | Previously Unavailable | Pitchblack Partners | Augusto | Attraction Studio | Werk Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 21.9% | 9.2% | 1.6% | 6.1% | 17.6% | 7% | 4.4% | 10.4% | 3.7% | 3% | 4% | 3.1% | 1.6% | 2.7% | 1.3% | 2.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 35.8% | 8.8% | 1.9% | 5.4% | 10.9% | 6.2% | 4.8% | 6.3% | 3.7% | 2.7% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 37.4% | 7.6% | 7.1% | 5.3% | 9.5% | 5.4% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 3.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 46.6% | 6.4% | 3.3% | 4.8% | 8.1% | 4.9% | 5.1% | 4.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.8% |
| Feb 2026 | 29.3% | 13.8% | 4.3% | 7.7% | 9.1% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Mar 2026 | 28.6% | 8.9% | 6.3% | 5.1% | 8.4% | 5.1% | 5.7% | 4% | 7.6% | 6% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Apr 2026 | 29.3% | 7.1% | 11.5% | 5.2% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 4.8% | 4% | 4% | 7.4% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| May 2026 | 24.7% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 5.7% | 6.3% | 6.6% | 4% | 4.7% | 5.8% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 2.7% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 23.9% | 9.9% | 11% | 5.6% | 7.3% | 7.6% | 5.9% | 4.9% | 5.4% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 2.6% |
| Jul 2026 | 25.9% | 8.7% | 12.6% | 5.8% | 6.7% | 6% | 6.4% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 3.8% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 27.9% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 7.7% | 7.4% | 6.2% | 4.6% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2% | 2% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Special Group and VML comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 3 times in the 11 months ending August 2026: Special Group took it in December 2025, VML took it in February 2026, Special Group took it in March 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Special Group’s estimated Share of Search among creative and integrated agencies in New Zealand moved from 7% to 6.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 770 to 640.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, VML’s estimated Share of Search among creative and integrated agencies in New Zealand moved from 10.4% to 4.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.1K to 440.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand creative and integrated agencies in August 2026?
3 changes
In August 2026, TBWA\New Zealand overtook Special Group to rank 4th among creative and integrated agencies in New Zealand, at 7.7%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for VML in New Zealand fell 61.4% over 11 measured months, from 1.1K to 440 in August 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Special Group in New Zealand fell 16.9% over 11 measured months, from 770 to 640 in August 2026.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Special Group’s and VML’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.
Special Group
9 branded search terms
- special group
- special group advertising
- special group agency
- special group auckland
- special group design
- special group nz
- special group wellington
- specialgroup
- the special group
VML
8 branded search terms
- vml
- vml agency
- vml auckland
- vml new zealand
- vml nz
- vml wellington
- vmly&r
- wunderman thompson nz
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.