Two Decades Of Ruffled Feathers - Bird Of The Year Turns 20
Forest & Bird's iconic Bird of the Year competition is celebrating its 20th anniversary – two decades of campaigning, squawking, strategising, and sparking real action for our native birds.
What began as a humble poll by mailout is now a major moment in Aotearoa New Zealand's conservation calendar. Over the years, it has inspired classroom debates, political memes, and even international fame – all in the name of celebrating the weird, wonderful, and endangered manu of Aotearoa.
To mark the milestone, Forest & Bird is launching a new book: Bird of the Year: Twenty years of ruffled feathers – A celebration of the birds of Aotearoa, written by award-winning journalist and former campaign lead Ellen Rykers. The book dives deep into the competition's backstory – the scandals, surprises, and the species that stole our hearts – while showcasing incredible illustrations from more than a dozen top wildlife artists.
'Bird of the Year has always been more than a popularity contest,' says Forest & Bird chief executive Nicola Toki. 'It connects people to our precious wildlife and inspires action – from backyard trapping to conservation careers.'
Each year, the competition shines a spotlight on birds in trouble. Some species, like the kakī black stilt, have soared from obscurity to national fame. Others, like the kākāpō, have used their Bird of the Year wins to rally support for urgent recovery programmes.
'People fall in love with these birds – and that's powerful,' says author Ellen Rykers. 'Once they know the story of the tūturuatu shore plover or the pekapeka-tou-roa long-tailed bat, they care. They act. They advocate.'
And the fight's far from over. With 80% of New Zealand's native birds in trouble, Forest & Bird is using this anniversary to remind voters: your vote counts. Not just in the ballot box, but in the bush, in communities and at the decision-making table.
Bird of the Year: Twenty years of ruffled feathers – A celebration of the birds of Aotearoa is published by Penguin Random House New Zealand and will be available for purchase from bookstores in late August. Royalties from the sale of each book will go to Forest & Bird to support its mahi.
2025 COMPETITION DATES
Today Forest & Bird is also announcing the dates for the 2025 competition.
Voting opens: Monday 15 September
Voting closes: Sunday 28 September
CAMPAIGN MANAGERS WANTED
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Two Decades Of Ruffled Feathers - Bird Of The Year Turns 20
Forest & Bird's iconic Bird of the Year competition is celebrating its 20th anniversary – two decades of campaigning, squawking, strategising, and sparking real action for our native birds. What began as a humble poll by mailout is now a major moment in Aotearoa New Zealand's conservation calendar. Over the years, it has inspired classroom debates, political memes, and even international fame – all in the name of celebrating the weird, wonderful, and endangered manu of Aotearoa. To mark the milestone, Forest & Bird is launching a new book: Bird of the Year: Twenty years of ruffled feathers – A celebration of the birds of Aotearoa, written by award-winning journalist and former campaign lead Ellen Rykers. The book dives deep into the competition's backstory – the scandals, surprises, and the species that stole our hearts – while showcasing incredible illustrations from more than a dozen top wildlife artists. 'Bird of the Year has always been more than a popularity contest,' says Forest & Bird chief executive Nicola Toki. 'It connects people to our precious wildlife and inspires action – from backyard trapping to conservation careers.' Each year, the competition shines a spotlight on birds in trouble. Some species, like the kakī black stilt, have soared from obscurity to national fame. Others, like the kākāpō, have used their Bird of the Year wins to rally support for urgent recovery programmes. 'People fall in love with these birds – and that's powerful,' says author Ellen Rykers. 'Once they know the story of the tūturuatu shore plover or the pekapeka-tou-roa long-tailed bat, they care. They act. They advocate.' And the fight's far from over. With 80% of New Zealand's native birds in trouble, Forest & Bird is using this anniversary to remind voters: your vote counts. Not just in the ballot box, but in the bush, in communities and at the decision-making table. Bird of the Year: Twenty years of ruffled feathers – A celebration of the birds of Aotearoa is published by Penguin Random House New Zealand and will be available for purchase from bookstores in late August. Royalties from the sale of each book will go to Forest & Bird to support its mahi. 2025 COMPETITION DATES Today Forest & Bird is also announcing the dates for the 2025 competition. Voting opens: Monday 15 September Voting closes: Sunday 28 September CAMPAIGN MANAGERS WANTED
Otago Daily Times
23-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Dunedin Midwinter Carnival 2025
One of our city's most iconic community events, the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival, is lighting the way not just with lanterns, but with meaningful partnerships that bring together conservation, art, and education. Through a series of collaborations, the Carnival is deepening its community connections and expanding the impact of its creative work across Ōtepoti/Dunedin. Nocturnal Forest Lantern Experience: A Magical Fusion of Art and Nature Earlier this year in April, during the Wild Dunedin Festival of Nature, we saw this in action when a newly formed partnership between Orokonui Ecosanctuary and The Dunedin Midwinter Carnival bought you the Orokonui Manu Huru - Nocturnal Forest Lantern Experience. The fundraising event, a collaboration between the two organisations merging conservation and art, was a guided evening walk through Orokonui's native forest which was brought to life by more than fifty thoughtfully curated lanterns celebrating Aotearoa's native wildlife. 'We were blessed with the light of the almost full moon as audiences were guided through the bush accompanied by the sounds of taoka pūoro, catching glimpses of Takahē, Kākā and of course our lanterns. We chose lanterns to highlight the natural fauna of the ecosanctuary, such as; Mokomoko/Lizard, Kōkō/Tui plus we had few special surprises such as our cheeky Moa, and the fearsome Pouākai/Haast Eagle.' Says Xanthe Naylor Duneidn Midwinter Carnival Event Manager. The experience was enhanced by the accompanying soundtrack; a specially composed soundscape by Madison Kelly (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Pākehā), lead guide at Orokonui. Using taoka pūoro, Madison created a sonic journey through dusk, night, and dawn at Orokonui evoking the flight of manu/birds like Kākā, Tokoeka, and Ruru, as well as the spiritual echoes of extinct species such as Moa. Live taoka pūoro performances by Madison and whānau from Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, Moewai Marsh, and Miriama Parata, added depth and mana to the event. The event not only captivated audiences but also raised vital funds for both organisations, exemplifying the beauty and benefit of community-led collaboration. 'The opportunity to collaborate with the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival has been fantastic for us. As two not-for-profit community-driven organisations, we have a lot in common, and the Manu Huru event has allowed us to utilise our respective strengths to pull together a really magical event celebrating wildlife, arts, and culture. We're super excited by how this partnership can grow into the future providing exciting experiences to introduce new people to both the sanctuary and the Carnival.' Says Amanda Symon General Manager Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Growing Creative Futures with Otago Polytechnic The Midwinter Carnival was excited to continue, and evolve, their valued partnership with Otago Polytechnic's School of Art, Design and Architecture. 'We were thrilled to once again partner with the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival, our second collaboration, and this time, it's bigger and better than ever.' Says Denise Narciso Principal Lecturer Projects and Internships Coordinator. The Midwinter Carnival team has been working alongside lecturers and 30 students on real-world creative projects. Students developed pitches across areas such as projection design, branding, interactive installations, and social media strategy. Several proposals were selected, and moved into production. This opportunity has given students valuable hands-on experience in client communication, research, idea development and collaboration; learning to diversify their design approaches, enhancing existing skills, and discovering new tools and techniques. 'The classroom becomes a dynamic studio environment that mirrors industry practices, where critique, teamwork, meetings, and presentations are part of the daily routine. We're now in the production phase, and there's a real buzz as the final designs start to take shape. We can't wait to see it all come together!' says Denise Narciso. Through this collaboration the community can expect to see some exciting new additions to this year's Midwinter Carnival. Creative Connections with Tūhura Otago Museum This year has also seen a new development in regards to the lantern making workshops. The Dunedin Midwinter Carnival has joined forces with Tūhura - Otago Museum and launched an adult lantern-making workshop as part of their Wine and Design series. These adult workshops will coincide with the Meridian Mall community lantern workshops and will be held this May 27 and 28 at Tūhura - Otago Museum. These after-hours sessions offer participants a chance to engage creatively with more intricate lantern designs, in a more relaxed environment, tickets also include a glass of wine and canapés. 'We are super excited to host these epic workshops! Tūhura is so lucky to be able to collaborate with such amazing local events and help showcase the mahi that goes into them.' Says Jessica Hatfield Senior Events Coordinator at Tūhura Otago Museum. Through these collaborations, the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival is fostering strong connections between artists, educators, conservationists, and learners; while continuing to inspire awe through light, creativity, and shared celebration. Be a part of the magic this June 27 and 28, as First Church and surrounding grounds are transformed into a luminous celebration of light with the theme Wings of Wonder . Enjoy the warmth of community and fly into the winter night, where wonder knows no bounds and shimmering lanterns take flight - from native birds of Aotearoa and mythical creatures that soar through the sky, to the graceful wings of butterflies. Let your imagination take wing as you weave through stunning lantern displays, interactive installations, and awe-inspiring performances. Event, pay-it-forward, and workshop tickets are all available now via ENDS
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Scoop
Tune-Yards Share New Single Ahead Of New Album 'Better Dreaming'
Tune-Yards, the dynamic duo of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner, have released their new single 'How Big Is The Rainbow', the final offering prior to the release of their upcoming album, Better Dreaming, out this Friday 16 May. The track is accompanied by a music video featuring comedian and actress, Star Amerasu, and directed by Dominic Mercurio. On the new track, Merrill shares 'The title lyric came out in a flash, and felt more sincere than I've ever been lyrically, maybe. But in this day and age, there is no room for subtlety when it comes to advocating for every single human being, for our trans family especially. And SHIT, how big IS the fucking rainbow?! It feels like the time to prove it to each other, to show each other how big it can be.' 'How Big Is The Rainbow' follows pre-release singles 'Limelight' and 'Heartbreak'. Distraction, depression, and heartbreak reign supreme in 2025. 'Making art in this day and age for me is a battle for focus; we're in an age of interruption,' says Garbus of Tune-Yards' sixth album Better Dreaming. Proudly waving an anti-fascist, liberation, freak flag, Better Dreaming contains some of Tune-Yards smoothest, funkiest, and most direct pop music to date, and yes, you can dance to it. And when you do dance to it, be prepared to sweat out something that's been long stuck inside, and pretty deep down. The songs of Better Dreaming came to Garbus and Brenner with unusual ease. They asked themselves what would happen if they simply let the songs come out, following any trail they wished - first thought, best thought style. There was a strong desire to move, to make music that would enter the ear and immediately loosen up the joints, get the whole body wiggling. After covid-isolation, and time away from touring and live shows, the desire to be moved by music was undeniable. The insane experience of growing an actual human being influenced this as well. The rhythms throughout the record carry a certain freshness, with deep pockets full of subtle idiosyncrasies that stem from Tune-Yards' return to making an album primarily as a duo. All but one of these songs are built around Garbus' drum looping and rhythm building, as they were on some of the early albums like Bird-Brains and W H O K I L L – no full kit drummer here, and the songs love it. Better Dreaming is ferocious in its invocation of self-love, of collective action, of dance floor liberation, ego-death deliverance, and a future we could all thrive in. When diving into the present darkness of the world, Tune-Yards asks themselves how much literal energy and joy can be conjured and pumped through the music. In its life-affirming art-pop of the apocalypse, Better Dreaming comes true. Better Dreaming is out on 16 May on all digital platforms, CD, standard black vinyl and clear blue wave vinyl (indie retail only). For more information, and to pre-order, head HERE.
