The Kākāpō named New Zealand’s bird of the year for 2020.
The green, flightless, nocturnal parrot becomes the first bird in the competition’s history to score a repeat win. It last won the award in 2008.
The critically endangered birds used to live throughout Aotearoa, but today they only survive on predator free islands.
There were only about 50 birds in the 1990s and they’ve been saved by intensive conservation efforts. Today there are 213 individuals
During the two-week voting period, the antipodean albatross topped the leader board with the most number-one votes. However, a late burst saw the kākāpō bounded into the lead.
There were 55,583 validated votes cast in 2020, up from 43,460 in 2019, and the most ever received in the competition’s history.
Top 10 winners with instant run-off preferential voting applied:
1. Kākāpō
2. Toroa/Antipodean Albatross
3. Kakaruia/Black Robin
4. Kārearea/New Zealand Falcon
5. Kererū
6. Pohowera/Banded Dotterel
7. Kākā
8. Ruru/Morepork
9. Whio/Blue Duck
10. Pīwakawaka/Fantail
