How visible are NZ lawyers to AI?
As of July 2026, the average AI-visibility score of 276 audited New Zealand lawyers’ websites is 68/100 — 5% block at least one AI search crawler, and 36% have no structured data telling AI engines what the business is.
average score
68/100
block AI crawlers
5%
no structured data
36%
City by city
| City | Sites audited | Avg score | Block AI crawlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch | 29 | 70/100 | 3% |
| Palmerston North | 28 | 65/100 | 11% |
| Tauranga | 27 | 71/100 | 22% |
| Auckland | 26 | 71/100 | 0% |
| Wellington | 25 | 66/100 | 4% |
| Dunedin | 25 | 68/100 | 0% |
| New Plymouth | 25 | 69/100 | 4% |
| Hamilton | 24 | 68/100 | 4% |
| Nelson | 23 | 69/100 | 4% |
| Hastings | 21 | 66/100 | 5% |
| Napier | 20 | 65/100 | 0% |
| Rotorua | 19 | 66/100 | 5% |
Why does AI visibility matter for lawyers?
When someone asks ChatGPT or Google’s AI for “a good lawyer 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 68/100, which means most lawyers are competing for AI recommendations with a handbrake on — and the ones who fix it early inherit the category.
Are you above or below 68?
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Check my siteLast updated July 2026 · based on 276 audited websites · methodology · aggregates only, no individual business is named