University of Otago vs University of Waikato:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, University of Waikato had more branded searches than University of Otago among universities in New Zealand. University of Waikato was estimated to have 54.2K branded searches compared to University of Otago’s 44.4K, and held an 11.1% Share of Search versus University of Otago’s 9.1%.
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Which is more popular in search, University of Otago or University of Waikato?
New Zealand's eight universities, compared through branded searches 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.
Share of Search by month for University of Waikato, University of Otago. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | University of Auckland | AUT | Massey University | Victoria University of Wellington | University of Waikato | University of Otago | University of Canterbury | Lincoln University |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 26.3% | 14.6% | 14.2% | 10.4% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 8% | 4.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 29.8% | 13.6% | 13.2% | 9.7% | 11.1% | 10% | 7.4% | 5.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 24.9% | 12% | 15.6% | 11% | 10.7% | 11.8% | 8.8% | 5.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 30.3% | 11.1% | 12.7% | 9.3% | 10.7% | 11.8% | 8.8% | 5.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 22.4% | 12.9% | 12.6% | 12% | 11.8% | 12.9% | 9.7% | 5.7% |
| Mar 2026 | 29% | 11.7% | 10.8% | 11.6% | 15.8% | 8.6% | 7.9% | 4.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 27.1% | 11.1% | 13.9% | 12.2% | 13.6% | 9.1% | 8.3% | 4.8% |
| May 2026 | 28.7% | 11.1% | 13.2% | 12.2% | 12.4% | 9.1% | 8.3% | 4.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 30.9% | 11.5% | 12.9% | 11.3% | 12.6% | 8.4% | 7.7% | 4.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 26.9% | 12.7% | 12.4% | 13.5% | 12.7% | 8.5% | 7.8% | 5.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 28.5% | 13.5% | 13.1% | 11.7% | 11.1% | 9.1% | 8.3% | 4.8% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the University of Otago and University of Waikato comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 11 months ending August 2026: University of Otago took it in December 2025, University of Waikato took it in March 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, University of Otago’s estimated Share of Search among universities in New Zealand moved from 10.8% to 9.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 44.4K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, University of Waikato’s estimated Share of Search among universities in New Zealand moved from 10.8% to 11.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 44.4K to 54.2K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand universities in August 2026?
3 changes
In August 2026, Massey University overtook University of Waikato to rank 3rd among universities in New Zealand, at 13.1%.
In August 2026, University of Otago gained estimated Share of Search among universities in New Zealand, from 8.5% to 9.1%.
In August 2026, University of Waikato lost estimated Share of Search among universities in New Zealand, from 12.7% to 11.1%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using University of Otago’s and University of Waikato’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.
University of Otago
3 branded search terms
- otago uni
- otago university
- university of otago
University of Waikato
3 branded search terms
- university of waikato
- waikato uni
- waikato university
Put your own brand in this comparison
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