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The Kōkako has been crowned New Zealand’s Bird of the Year for 2016!

Best known for its deep organ-like call, the Kōkako is a large slate-grey bird with blue wattles.

Once threatened with extinction there were just 660 Kōkako left in 1999. But today, their numbers have passed 3000 individuals, and populations are recovering thanks to predator control and translocation programmes.

The Kōkako’s successful campaign to win Bird of the Year was led by 16-year-old Oscar Thomas from Auckland, with help from the Rotoehu Ecological Trust in the Bay of Plenty.

Albatross

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775 votes

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Banded Dotterel

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164 votes

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Bar Tailed Godwit

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65 votes

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Barn Owl

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178 votes

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Bellbird (Korimako)

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323 votes

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Bittern

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158 votes

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Black Billed Gull

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86 votes

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Black Petrel (Taiko)

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68 votes

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Blue Duck (Whio)

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165 votes

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Brown Teal (Pāteke)

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172 votes

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Chatham Island Black Robin

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314 votes

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Fairy Tern (Tara Iti)

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128 votes

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Fantail (Piwakawaka)

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1508 votes

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Fernbird (Kotata)

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71 votes

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Fiordland Crested Penguin (Tawaki)

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78 votes

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Gannet (Takapu)

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108 votes

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Grey Warbler (Riroriro)

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288 votes

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Harrier (Kahu)

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250 votes

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Hihi (Stitchbird)

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243 votes

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Hutton's shearwater

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67 votes

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Kākā

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539 votes

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Kākāpō

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654 votes

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Kākāriki

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126 votes

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Kakī (Black Stilt)

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620 votes

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Kārearea (New Zealand Falcon)

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527 votes

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Kea

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2608 votes

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Kererū

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511 votes

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Kingfisher (Kōtare)

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342 votes

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Kiwi

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152 votes

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Kōkako

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3614 votes

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Little Blue Penguin (Korora)

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190 votes

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Mohua

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60 votes

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New Zealand Dotterel (Tuturiwhatu)

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251 votes

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New Zealand Robin (Toutouwai)

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205 votes

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New Zealand Scaup (Pāpango)

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81 votes

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Pūkeko

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146 votes

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Rifleman (Tītipounamu)

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120 votes

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Rock Wren

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104 votes

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Royal Spoonbill

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165 votes

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Ruru (Morepork)

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900 votes

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Saddleback (Tieke)

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336 votes

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Shag

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49 votes

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Shining Cuckoo

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73 votes

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Shore Plover (Tūturuatu)

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47 votes

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Sooty Shearwater

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493 votes

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Southern Rockhopper Penguin

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97 votes

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Spur-Winged Plover

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38 votes

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Takahē

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187 votes

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Tomtit

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145 votes

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Tūī

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597 votes

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Weka

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242 votes

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White Faced Heron

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55 votes

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Wrybill

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69 votes

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Yellow Eyed Penguin (Hoiho)

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139 votes

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Previous winners

2016

Kōkako

2015

Bar Tailed Godwit

2014

Fairy Tern / Tara Iti

2013

Mohua

2012

Karearea

2011

Pukeko

2010

Kākāriki

2009

Kiwi

2008

Kakapo

2007

Grey Warbler

2006

Fantail

2005

Tui

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About Heritage Expeditions

Expedition travel company Heritage Expeditions was born in the mid-1980s out of the belief that New Zealand’s precious birdlife must be protected for future generations. In his early working life, founder Rodney Russ was instrumental in the conservation of many birds on New Zealand’s endangered species list including the Campbell Island flightless teal, kākāpō and the black robin. The Christchurch-based, family-owned company he founded remains true to his passion and commitment to conservation. This December, a special fundraising voyage to New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands will be run as part of Heritage Expeditions’ longstanding partnership with Forest & Bird. Heritage Expeditions is pleased to extend this support to Forest & Bird as sponsor for Bird of the Year.
Cast your vote for Bird of Year and go in the draw to win an expedition to the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands this December worth over $7000 NZD.