Karure edges ahead of Kākāpō in final hours of Bird of the Year 2026 contest

Aotearoa is witnessing a photo finish in its most spirited annual election as voting for Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau | Bird of the Year 2026 enters its final hours. As of Sunday, 20 September 2026, the karure (black robin) has surged into first place, overtaking the early frontrunner and two-time champion kākāpō. Organisers have described this as the closest race since the competition began, featuring 74 native birds grouped into various thematic parties. According to reporting from Forest & Bird and Waatea News, the karure representing the Shy Birds party currently leads a competitive top five that includes the kākāpō, last year’s winner the kārearea (New Zealand falcon), the kea, and the takahē. A potential victory for the karure would mark a significant milestone for a species that famously faced extinction in 1980. At that time, only five black robins remained globally; today’s population of approximately 300 birds all descend from a single breeding pair known as Old Blue and Old Yellow. While the kākāpō led the field when voting opened at 9am on 4 September, the momentum shifted during the final week. Beyond the individual race, the competition highlights Māori kaitiakitanga and the deep connections these manu have to whakapapa and pūrākau. The Tree Birds party currently commands the lead with 22.6 percent of the total party vote, followed by the Shore Birds and Sea Birds parties. The Sea Birds had previously claimed three spots within the top ten during the early stages of the count. Forest & Bird emphasizes the underlying urgency of the campaign, noting that over 80 percent of New Zealand’s native bird species currently face some level of threat from habitat loss and climate change. For the karure, which has frequently appeared near the top of the rankings but has never secured a win, this year represents a chance for a historic first crown for one of Aotearoa’s most resilient conservation success stories. Public participation is scheduled to close at 5:00 pm today, Sunday 20 September. The final winner of the 2026 crown will be officially announced on Monday, 21 September, determining which manu will succeed in this year’s contest of conservation and national pride.