Ready, set, go! Get your #BirdOfTheYear VOTE FOR KIWI in until 28 September!

✅ Go to birdoftheyear.org.nz
✅ Select 5 birds and make sure kiwi is one of them
✅ Type in your name and email
✅ Validate your vote via a link from Forest & Bird

Pic by Judi Lapsley Miller

Bird of the Year 2025 opens tomorrow! Make sure kiwi is one of your 5 votes 🥝
Kiwi pukupuku/little spotted kiwi is this year’s rep for all kiwi species. Vote for the national icon + remember to verify your ballot via email at birdoftheyear.org.nz
Pic by Judi Lapsley Miller

By 1912, the kiwi pukupuku species was thought to be down to just 5 and moved to Kāpiti Island (extinct on mainland New Zealand).

In 2000s, 40 were brought to Zealandia in Wellington with 15 of their descendants translocated out to support another population in 2025.

📷 John Hermans, Lynn Freeman

Each year, kiwi species take turns at being the 'party leader' for #BirdOfTheYear New Zealand compeition to avoid splitting the vote if they ran separately. The 2025 'party leader' is kiwi pukupuku/little spotted kiwi!

📷 Judi Lapsley Miller, Shaun Lee, Benjamin Ramos, Leon Berard, Rod Morris (DOC)

It’s official! Zealandia is campaigning for kiwi in #BirdOfTheYear or #BOTY 2025!
This year’s ‘party leader’ for the 5 kiwi species is kiwi pukupuku, the smallest of kiwi with the BIGGEST conservation success story.
Vote KIWI from 15 Sep! www.birdoftheyear.org.nz
Laser Eye Kiwi by by Lucy Gray

Each year, kiwi species take turns at being the 'party leader' for #BirdOfTheYear New Zealand to avoid splitting the vote if they ran separately. The 2025 'party leader' is kiwi pukupuku/little spotted kiwi!

📷 Judi Lapsley Miller, Shaun Lee, Benjamin Ramos, Leon Berard, Rod Morris (DOC)

Once lost from the New Zealand mainland, hihi stitchbirds were returned to Zealandia in 2005. They’re tough to manage, but thanks to dedicated kaitiaki (staff and volunteers), visitors can see these rare manu/birds just minutes from Wellington’s CBD.
#NationalHihiCelebrationWeek
📷: Scott Langdale

In 1989, this was just Karori Reservoir—no kiwi, no kākā, no fence. Today, it’s Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne: full of birdsong and life. This didn’t happen overnight. Help us keep it going! Join as a member or support our fence campaign: www.visitzealandia.com/Get-Involved

WEASEL UPDATE:

Mustelid dog Wero and his handler Brad found 2 locations of interest when searching inside and outside the Zealandia fence for potential points of entry for weasels that were found dead in traps at Zealandia earlier this month.

Read more: visitzealandia.com/Whats-On/Art...

Ngā mihi to Freyja from Hypha Gym and Hīnano and Beija from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo for clearing 7.5m³ of weeds & planting 60 natives along the Kaiwharawhara Stream before a community CrossFit competition raising funds for Zealandia’s introduced predator-proof fence refurbishment 🌱💪

Freshwater ecosystems in Aotearoa are under pressure from pollution, habitat loss, and introduced species.

At Zealandia, we’re restoring Roto Māhanga by reintroducing kākahi and their host fish, toitoi.

It’s working. Both species are now thriving!

Read more: www.visitzealandia.com/Whats-On/Art...

A few decades ago, this valley held an old reservoir. Now it's Zealandia—the world’s first fenced urban ecosanctuary.

Since 1999, 23 native species have been reintroduced, and wildlife is spilling into the city.

Just 25 years into a 500-year vision: we’re only getting started!

bit.ly/45mLquL

15 kiwi pukupuku/little spotted kiwi were translocated to Cape Sanctuary, marking a major milestone in Zealandia’s 25-year journey.

From just 40 birds, the population has grown to about 200: enough to support the long-term survival of the species at a national level.

Read more: bit.ly/439KmJn