Few things get New Zealanders as fired up as a democratic vote — especially when the candidates are birds. The 2025 Bird of the Year competition, run by Forest & Bird, has just crowned its winner: the kārearea, or New Zealand falcon, which took 14,317 votes in the contest’s 20th anniversary year.

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Winner of NZ Bird of the Year 2025: Kārearea / New Zealand falcon ·
Total votes for winner: 14,317 ·
Percentage of valid votes: 21% ·
Competition anniversary: 20th ·
Second place: Kea, 12,506 votes

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Full vote breakdown for all contestants is not publicly available
  • Exact verification process for the 67,675 validated votes
  • Whether the competition will return in 2026
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • A new waiata (song) in te reo Māori for the kārearea, recorded at Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios (Forest & Bird conservation trust)
  • Ongoing conservation efforts for the nationally vulnerable falcon (Forest & Bird conservation trust)

The kārearea’s win isn’t just a popularity contest — it’s a conservation signal.

Six key facts about the 2025 winner, all drawn from official sources:

Attribute Value
Scientific name Falco novaeseelandiae
Common name in Māori Kārearea
Conservation status Threatened (Nationally Vulnerable)
Endemic to New Zealand
Top speed Up to 230 km/h
Votes for winner 2025 14,317

The pattern: the falcon’s attributes tell a story of a high-speed predator clinging to survival.

Who won the NZ Bird of the Year in 2025?

How did the kārearea falcon win?

  • The kārearea (New Zealand falcon) won Forest & Bird’s 2025 Bird of the Year contest, securing the top spot in the competition’s 20th anniversary year (Forest & Bird, New Zealand’s largest conservation trust).
  • The falcon received 14,317 votes out of 67,675 validated votes cast by people from 123 countries, with 87% of voting originating from New Zealand (Forest & Bird, New Zealand’s largest conservation trust).
  • The BBC reported that the kārearea secured about 21% of the valid votes, a clear margin over the runner-up (BBC News).

What made the 2025 competition unique?

  • This was the 20th edition of the annual contest, first held in 2005 (Forest & Bird, New Zealand’s largest conservation trust).
  • The kārearea’s win marks its second victory — it previously won in 2012 (The Guardian).
  • Forest & Bird also released a new waiata (song) in te reo Māori to honor the winner, recorded at Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios as part of the Waiata Manu series (Forest & Bird, New Zealand’s largest conservation trust).

The catch: the falcon’s second win underscores both the bird’s iconic status and the fragility of its population.

The upshot

Forest & Bird classifies the species as “in serious trouble,” and the record-breaking 67,675 validated votes show that the public is paying attention to the plight of native birds (Bird of the Year / Forest & Bird).

The implication: more than 80% of Aotearoa’s native birds are threatened or at risk of extinction, according to Forest & Bird (Forest & Bird, New Zealand’s largest conservation trust).

What is the national bird of New Zealand?

Why is the kiwi the national bird?

  • The kiwi is the national bird of New Zealand — an endemic, flightless bird that has become a cultural icon, appearing on the country’s coat of arms, currency, and used as a national symbol (Bird of the Year / Forest & Bird).
  • The kiwi is not a contestant in Bird of the Year; the competition is separate from the national emblem.

How does the kiwi compare to the kārearea?

  • While the kiwi is a ground-dwelling, nocturnal bird, the kārearea is a diurnal bird of prey capable of reaching speeds up to 230 km/h (The Guardian).
  • Both are endemic to New Zealand, but they occupy completely different ecological niches.

The pattern: Bird of the Year celebrates all native species, not just the national symbol.

How rare is the NZ falcon?

What is the conservation status of the kārearea?

  • Forest & Bird classifies the kārearea as “Threatened (Nationally Vulnerable)” on its conservation page (Bird of the Year / Forest & Bird).
  • The species is endemic to New Zealand — it is the only falcon native to the country (The Guardian).

Why is the falcon threatened?

  • Main threats include habitat loss from deforestation and predation by introduced species such as stoats, rats, and cats (NZ Herald, New Zealand’s largest daily newspaper).
  • Forest & Bird’s competition page describes the kārearea as “in serious trouble” and notes that it is a high-speed hunter at risk from habitat loss and predation (Bird of the Year / Forest & Bird).

The implication: winning the popular vote doesn’t change the bird’s conservation status, but the publicity can drive awareness and funding for protection efforts.

Why this matters

The kārearea faces a double threat: its natural habitat is shrinking, and introduced predators target its nests. With fewer than 10,000 individuals estimated, the Bird of the Year spotlight may be one of its most powerful conservation tools.

What are the past NZ Bird of the Year winners?

Who won in 2023?

  • The 2023 winner was the pūteketeke (Australasian crested grebe), which won after a high-profile campaign by comedian John Oliver on his show “Last Week Tonight” (BBC News).
  • Oliver’s campaign brought international attention to the competition and drove a surge in votes.

What is the full list of winners?

  • The competition started in 2005. Notable winners include the kākāpō (2008, 2020), kea (2017, 2018), and the kārearea (2012, 2025).
  • No competition was held in 2024 due to a reported hiatus, making 2025 the 20th edition.

Six winners, one pattern: the most charismatic and threatened species tend to dominate.

What is the controversy around NZ Bird of the Year?

Has there been vote manipulation?

  • In 2023, the competition faced allegations of vote cheating after the pūteketeke’s win, though no formal investigation was publicly released (BBC News).
  • Forest & Bird has not disclosed specific anti-fraud measures, but the 2025 competition saw a verification process that reduced total votes from 75,439 to 67,675 validated.

What role did John Oliver play?

  • John Oliver’s campaign for the pūteketeke in 2023 included a billboard in New Zealand, a segment on his show, and even a mention on “The Tonight Show” (The Guardian).
  • His involvement turned the competition into a global news story, but also raised questions about foreign interference in a national vote.

The catch: the controversy itself is part of what makes Bird of the Year so popular.

The paradox

The same global attention that risks distorting the vote also raises the profile of threatened species. The kārearea’s win, free from a foreign celebrity campaign, may be seen as a more “authentic” result — but it still benefits from the competition’s viral reputation.

Timeline

  • 2005: First Bird of the Year competition held by Forest & Bird.
  • 2023: Pūteketeke wins after John Oliver’s campaign; controversy over vote integrity.
  • 2024: No competition held (reported hiatus).
  • September 2025: Kārearea falcon wins 20th Bird of the Year with 14,317 votes (21% of validated votes).

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Kārearea falcon is the 2025 winner (Forest & Bird conservation trust)
  • Total votes for winner: 14,317 (BBC News)
  • Winner percentage: 21% of validated votes (BBC News)
  • Competition is the 20th anniversary (Forest & Bird conservation trust)
  • Second place: kea, 12,506 votes (Forest & Bird conservation trust)

What’s unclear

  • Exact voting system details (e.g., how many total votes cast before validation)
  • Full breakdown of votes for all contestants may not be publicly available
  • Future 2026 competition details not yet announced

Quotes

“The kārearea is New Zealand’s only falcon — a high-speed hunter that is in serious trouble.”

— Forest & Bird spokesperson, as quoted on the official Bird of the Year page (Bird of the Year / Forest & Bird)

“The kārearea’s win in the 20th anniversary year is a testament to the public’s love for this fierce predator.”

— Ellen Tait, reporting for The Guardian (The Guardian)

“About 21% of the valid votes went to the kārearea, securing a clear victory.”

— Allie Macey, reporting for BBC News (BBC News)

For New Zealanders, the choice is clear: the kārearea’s win celebrates a threatened species, but it’s also a reminder that more than 80% of native birds are at risk. The next step isn’t just waiting for the 2026 vote — it’s supporting the conservation work that keeps these birds from disappearing.

Related reading: NZTA Waka Kotahi Wildlife Act Ruling · Kupe and the Giant Wheke: Myth, Meaning and Impact

Additional sources

nicenews.com, forestandbird.org.nz, facebook.com, facebook.com, ground.news, facebook.com, facebook.com

The kārearea’s victory highlights New Zealand’s unique avian life, and the Sign of the Takahe guide offers a deeper look at another native treasure.

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Frequently asked questions

How does the NZ Bird of the Year work?

Forest & Bird runs an annual public vote where people can choose from a list of native New Zealand birds. The competition runs for several weeks, and the bird with the most votes wins. In 2025, 67,675 validated votes were cast from 123 countries.

How can I vote in Bird of the Year?

Voting is typically open online through the official Bird of the Year website (birdoftheyear.org.nz) during the competition period. Anyone can vote, but Forest & Bird encourages voting from New Zealand to keep the contest nationally focused.

Is the kārearea the same as a peregrine falcon?

No. The kārearea (Falco novaeseelandiae) is a distinct species endemic to New Zealand. Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) are found worldwide. The kārearea is smaller and adapted to New Zealand’s forest and mountain habitats.

What is the difference between the national bird and Bird of the Year?

The national bird of New Zealand is the kiwi, a flightless bird that is a cultural symbol. Bird of the Year is a separate annual competition run by Forest & Bird that covers all native birds, not just the kiwi.

Has the kiwi ever won Bird of the Year?

No, the kiwi has never won Bird of the Year. The competition has been won by species such as the kākāpō, kea, pūteketeke, and kārearea.

What are the other notable NZ bird species in the competition?

Other notable contestants include the kea (alpine parrot), kākāpō (flightless parrot), tūī, kererū (wood pigeon), and the hoiho (yellow-eyed penguin). Each year the competition highlights different species.

How does Bird of the Year help conservation?

The competition raises awareness about New Zealand’s native birds, many of which are threatened. It also generates media coverage that can lead to increased donations and support for conservation projects. In 2025, the winner was honored with a waiata song to celebrate the species.