Aotearoa’s wildest election is heading for a photo finish, with karure, the black robin, taking the lead over two-time champion kākāpō in the final stretch of Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau | Bird of the Year 2026.
Forest & Bird says it is the closest contest in the competition’s history, with karure sitting in first place, followed by kākāpō, last year’s winner kārearea, kea and takahē.
A victory for karure would be a remarkable new chapter in one of Aotearoa’s greatest conservation recovery stories.
In 1980, just five black robins remained in the world. Every one of the approximately 300 alive today descends from a single breeding pair, Old Blue and Old Yellow. Despite regularly appearing near the top of Bird of the Year, karure has never won the title.
This year’s competition has taken on an election theme, with 74 native birds standing across seven parties. Every vote for an individual manu also contributes to its party’s total. Tree Birds currently lead the party vote on 22.6 percent, ahead of Shore Birds and Sea Birds.
But behind the political puns is a serious conservation message. Forest & Bird says more than 80 percent of New Zealand’s native bird species are experiencing some level of trouble, with the annual competition designed to build public awareness and support for their protection.
Voting closes at 5pm today, Sunday 20 September, with the 2026 Bird of the Year winner to be announced tomorrow.
For karure, a bird once reduced to just five survivors, the final hours could deliver its first ever crown.
#BirdOfTheYear #TeManuRongonuiOTeTau #Karure #BlackRobin #Kākāpō #Kārearea #Kea #Takahē #Manu #NativeBirds #Conservation #Biodiversity #Taiao #Kaitiakitanga #Aotearoa #ForestAndBird #BirdOfTheYear2026 #WaateaNews #RadioWaatea
