Full Breakdown
Karure Black Robin Triumphs in 2026 New Zealand Bird of the Year
By Drooid · · How we work
Karure Black Robin Wins the 2026 Contest
The karure black robin, a native of the Chatham Islands, secured the top spot in the 2026 Bird of the Year competition with 26,610 votes, beating two-time champion kakapo. The winner was announced on Monday 21 September 2026 after polls closed the day before.
Conservation Turnaround on the Chatham Islands
In 1980 the species fell to five individuals, with only one fertile female. Recovery work led by the Chatham Islands Landscape Restoration Trust and the Department of Conservation has raised the population to about 350 adult birds across two pest-free reserve islands, marking a notable conservation success.
Vote Totals and Party Results
- Total participants: 105,000 voters on birdoftheyear.org.nz.
- Top three vote-getters:
- Karure black robin – 26,610
- Kakapo – 19,445
- Karearea (New Zealand falcon) – 17,423
- Party vote shares (seven parties):
- Tree Birds – 22.9 % (100,793 votes) – source A
- Shore Birds – 20.0 %
- Sea Birds – 17.3 %
- High Birds – 12.2 %
- Floor Birds – 12.1 %
- Shy Birds – 12.1 %
- Night Birds – 3.5 %
The competition featured more than 70 native birds, with each vote counting toward both the individual bird and its party total.
Forest & Bird’s Official Perspective
Rebecca Hatch, Group Manager for Growing Support at Forest & Bird, said the contest engages the public through a playful “election” while highlighting the precarious status of New Zealand’s avifauna. She noted the record-high participation and linked the post-election period to a planned event on 7 November 2026 to maintain momentum for habitat protection.
Verbatim Quote
- “The jokes are funny and this year’s meme game certainly didn’t disappoint, but underneath it all there is a serious message – 80 % of our manu are in some or serious trouble,” — Rebecca Hatch
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Two Forest & Bird releases give slightly different percentages for the Tree Birds party: 22.9 % in one and 22.6 % in another. The source of the discrepancy is not clarified.
What’s Next – Post-Election Initiatives
After the announcement, the winning karure will be honored with a commissioned song and a range of educational kits and limited-edition products, with proceeds supporting habitat work. Forest & Bird will also run classroom and workplace outreach throughout the remainder of 2026 to sustain public engagement.