In October the annual Forest And Bird election results were released, with the Kōkako winning at the ballot despite stiff competition from the kea and piwakawaka.

According to 16-year-old Oscar Thomas who, along with Rotoehu Ecological Trust in the Bay of Plenty led the Kōkako campaign, the bird “sings with a deep, five-note call that makes the Tui sound like an elaborate train wreck.”

The kōkako is found mainly in North Island native forest among tawa, taraire or kauri trees. In 1999 there were only 660 Kōkako left. Now, with sustained predator control and translocation programmes, there are over 3000.

Forest and Bird play a significant role in the success of these initiatives and we are proud to sponsor this iconic New Zealand organisation. In 2016 close to 20,000 people voted for their favourite bird. We hope even more can take part when it comes time to vote in 2017.