How visible are NZ hairdressers to AI?
As of July 2026, the average AI-visibility score of 209 audited New Zealand hairdressers’ websites is 66/100 — 4% block at least one AI search crawler, and 27% have no structured data telling AI engines what the business is.
average score
66/100
block AI crawlers
4%
no structured data
27%
City by city
| City | Sites audited | Avg score | Block AI crawlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellington | 27 | 72/100 | 0% |
| Christchurch | 26 | 62/100 | 8% |
| Tauranga | 24 | 69/100 | 0% |
| Dunedin | 23 | 63/100 | 0% |
| Palmerston North | 23 | 66/100 | 0% |
| Hamilton | 21 | 65/100 | 10% |
| Nelson | 16 | 67/100 | 6% |
| Auckland | 15 | 67/100 | 0% |
Why does AI visibility matter for hairdressers?
When someone asks ChatGPT or Google’s AI for “a good hairdresser 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 66/100, which means most hairdressers are competing for AI recommendations with a handbrake on — and the ones who fix it early inherit the category.
Are you above or below 66?
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Check my siteLast updated July 2026 · based on 209 audited websites · methodology · aggregates only, no individual business is named