Shock concession in Bird of the Year! Kotare flies in behind kea!
Bird of the year heats up: kōtare concedes, backs kea
The national Bird of The Year competition is heating up, with a shock concession from one of the contenders.
The kōtare, or kingfisher, has conceded it will not win the poll, and flown in behind one of the two leading candidates, the kea.
The kōtare has notched up 229 votes in the first week of the two-week ballot. But two birds are clear leaders in the hard-fought election race: kea on 1246 votes and kōkako on 1368.
Kōtare campaign manager Greening the Red Zone said the people had spoken, and for the integrity of the competition it was important for minor players to step back and focus on electing the best representative for all New Zealand’s birds.
“We love our kōtare, and want to see many more of them throughout a regenerating red zone,” said Greening the Red Zone co-chair Ashley Campbell. “But it’s clear that this is not the kingfisher’s year.
“The kōtare’s time will come, but in this electoral battle we need to throw our support behind best candidate for right now.
“We believe that candidate is the kea – the world’s only mountain parrot, and one that’s facing serious decline,” Ms Campbell said.
“While we will never see kea in the red zone, we want to make sure they stay forever in our mountains, entertaining tourists, rearranging windscreens, and just being the amazing birds they are.
“Besides which, we are troubled by the electoral track history of the kōkako and don’t want to see this important national poll mired in yet another voting scandal,” Ms Campbell said (see www.forestandbird.org.nz...).
You can #VoteKea at www.birdoftheyear.org.nz.... You can read more about Greening the Red Zone’s plans for a native forest and wetland park in Christchurch’s Avon River Red Zone at greeningtheredzone.nz.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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85.2% Yes
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13.8% No
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1.1% Other - I'll share below
Who would have thought walking could have been so dangerous!
Wow!
In 2022 there were 33 fatal crashes, 245 serious injury crashes, and 590 minor injury crashes where pedestrians were involved.
In these crashes, 34 people walking died, 240 people walking were seriously injured, and 595 people walking suffered minor injuries.
Most injuries occur in the young (5 - 29yrs), then 50+yrs, with the highest number of child pedestrians injured between 2pm and 4pm, followed by 4pm to 6pm and 8am to 10am.
Emergency Cards and Tags, ensure first responders have instant access to crucial medical details if any, and can notify loved ones much faster, providing peace of mind when every minute counts.
Protect someone you love and give yourself peace of mind that should an accident or medical event occur, you can be contacted without delay.
www.emergencycards.co.nz...
Data sourced from www.transport.govt.nz...
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