Forest & Bird’s Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau | Bird of the Year 2026 competition is approaching. The polls open on 4 September and close on 20 September, with the country's native manu standing for office.
This year, the 70-plus candidates are organised into six parties. (Fun fact: every candidate has a left wing and a right wing.)
"This election year, we’re leaning all the way in,” says Rebecca Hatch, Forest & Bird’s Group Manager, Growing Support. “As well as competing for Bird of the Year votes as individual candidates, the birds have formed parties. Naturally, those parties come complete with manu-festos – with lots of puns.
“Every vote cast for a bird will also count towards its party's total, so we'll discover in 2026 not only which bird wins Bird of the Year, but which flock claims the top perch.”
Now, the call is going out for businesses to get involved, show their support for their favourite manu, and have fun while raising money to help protect them. Workplace kits are available to encourage teams of all sizes to get involved in the competition. Download the kit here: Bird of the Year 2026 Workplace Kit
“Get your team voting, start a workplace ‘tweet’-stake, and put on a fundraising event, such as a quiz, bake sale or bird-fancy dress day. You might be surprised at the secret skills your team has waiting in the ‘wings’!” Rebecca says.
The six parties standing in 2026:
· Sea Birds and Tree Birds – the ocean-goers versus the forest chorus.
· Shore Birds and Floor Birds – the water bloc versus the flightless battlers.
· Shy Birds and High Birds – the quiet caucus versus the high living.
The jokes might be funny, but the stakes are real. More than 80% of our native birds are in some or serious trouble. By spreading the word about our birds, we help share the importance of predator control, habitat restoration, and a speaking up for nature.
"Every vote puts a bird in the spotlight, and every bird in the spotlight is a bird that more people will care about and fight for," says Ms Hatch.
The wildest election is more than just votes
This year the campaign trail runs right through the country's classrooms, offices, and high streets.
· Many New Zealand schools got off the mark early and signed up to run their own classroom votes, with more registering every week. Schools are a bit like special voters. Their votes are counted at the end and can change the outcome.
· Workplaces can join the fray with downloadable workplace kits to rally the team.
· New Zealand businesses are backing the birds with limited-edition products, with a share of every sale going back to nature.
· Four new BOTY Brick Kits are available with genuine LEGO parts, designed by Mike Murray (@bricks.by.mike_).
· The winner will have a song created in its honour. Listen to last year’s Waiata Manu Kārearea by Delaney Davidson and Troy Kingi here.
· Wordle for bird nerds launched last year at Birdle.nz. By early May 2026, more than 600,000 games had been played by 61,000 unique players.
· Pop-up voting activations around the country will be announced soon
If you're a business looking to get involved and champion New Zealand's birds this September, we'd love to have you on board. Show your support by joining the flock and be part of the fun!
Bird of the Year | Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau is Forest & Bird's annual public vote for the nation's favourite native bird, running since 2005. In 2025, it drew more than 75,000 voters across 123 countries. This year, more than 70 native birds are campaigning for votes across six parties.
Voting is free, fair, and open to everyone. It runs from 4-20 September 2026, with the winner announced on 21 September. Every voter can vote for up to five birds. Vote at birdoftheyear.org.nz. Follow along with #BOTY and #BOTY2026.