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.
Poll: Canterbury is thriving on paper... but are you seeing evidence of Canterbury's improving economy?
As reported in the Press, Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman recently gave a shout-out to our region, calling Canterbury a "stand-out" for how we recover from tough times. With tech firms growing and exporters investing, the business side of things is looking bright!
👉 But we know that "business growth" doesn't always mean the weekly shop gets any cheaper. While the city expands, many families feel like they’re just trying to keep their heads above water.
We want to know: With the business buzz of 2026, do you feel like things are finally looking up for your household, or does it still feel like a climb?
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0% Yes
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0% No
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100% In some areas ...
🧩😏 Riddle me this, Neighbours…
I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
Do you think you know the answer?
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Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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