How visible are NZ builders to AI?
As of July 2026, the average AI-visibility score of 257 audited New Zealand builders’ websites is 71/100 — 3% block at least one AI search crawler, and 23% have no structured data telling AI engines what the business is.
average score
71/100
block AI crawlers
3%
no structured data
23%
City by city
| City | Sites audited | Avg score | Block AI crawlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 29 | 73/100 | 7% |
| Tauranga | 28 | 73/100 | 4% |
| Dunedin | 27 | 72/100 | 0% |
| Christchurch | 25 | 73/100 | 0% |
| Hamilton | 25 | 69/100 | 0% |
| Palmerston North | 25 | 70/100 | 8% |
| Wellington | 24 | 71/100 | 4% |
| Hastings | 24 | 71/100 | 0% |
| Napier | 22 | 71/100 | 0% |
| New Plymouth | 22 | 71/100 | 5% |
| Rotorua | 20 | 71/100 | 0% |
| Nelson | 18 | 68/100 | 0% |
Why does AI visibility matter for builders?
When someone asks ChatGPT or Google’s AI for “a good builder near me”, the engines can only recommend businesses they can find, read and trust. A site that blocks AI crawlers or renders everything in JavaScript is invisible in those answers — the job goes to whoever is visible. The average here is 71/100, which means most builders are competing for AI recommendations with a handbrake on — and the ones who fix it early inherit the category.
Are you above or below 71?
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Check my siteLast updated July 2026 · based on 257 audited websites · methodology · aggregates only, no individual business is named