A small, shy native bird called the black robin, or karure, has won New Zealand’s Bird of the Year competition for 2026.
The result was announced by conservation group Forest & Bird, after a record 98,920 validated votes were cast. This year, 88 percent of votes came from inside New Zealand, a big change from 2023, when most votes came from overseas.
The black robin beat some famous rivals to take the crown. The kākāpō came second, the New Zealand falcon came third, and the kea and takahē tied for fifth place.
Forest & Bird’s Rebecca Hatch said people had turned out for nature in record numbers this year, with participation soaring.
The black robin’s story is remarkable. In 1980, only five black robins were left alive in the whole world, and just one of them, a female named Old Blue, could still breed. Every black robin alive today, about 350 birds, is descended from Old Blue and her mate, Old Yellow.
The birds live only on the Chatham Islands, about 800km east of the South Island, and are still critically endangered. Feral cats and limited space remain their biggest threats, and conservationists hope to start a third population on another island to help the species grow.
This is the black robin’s first Bird of the Year win, after coming close several times before.
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