New Zealand’s Bird Election Postponed Due to John Oliver’s Comedic Interference

The announcement of New Zealand’s favorite bird has been postponed due to an overwhelming influx of votes, largely influenced by comedian John Oliver’s humorous intervention.

This year’s event, normally known as the Bird of the Year, was renamed Bird of the Century in celebration of Forest and Bird’s 100th anniversary. The event aims to draw attention to the endangered status of many native birds. However, Oliver’s discovery of a voting loophole — allowing anyone with an email address to participate — led him to actively campaign for the pūteketeke, a native water bird, on his show “Last Week Tonight.”

Oliver’s campaign included various stunts, such as erecting billboards promoting “The Lord of the Wings” in cities worldwide, flying a banner plane over Brazil’s Ipanema Beach, and donning a large bird costume on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon. His actions, cheekily framed as American meddling in foreign elections, have caused Forest and Bird to extend the voting verification process by two days.

Nicola Toki, Chief Executive of Forest and Bird, expressed excitement over the heightened interest in the contest, which has a history of controversies including fraudulent votes and a bat winning the competition due to its recognition as a bird by Indigenous Māori.

Oliver’s humorous portrayal of the pūteketeke, described as “weird, puking birds with colorful mullets,” has resonated with many, though it also faced resistance from those advocating for the national bird, the kiwi. Oliver humorously countered this by likening the kiwi to “a rat carrying a toothpick.”

Despite the playful nature of the campaign, the contest reflects New Zealanders’ profound connection to their wildlife, especially birds, which were the dominant species before human settlement. Toki highlighted this connection and noted the significant increase in participation in the contest since its inception in 2005.

As the country awaits the delayed results, Oliver’s involvement has undoubtedly amplified global attention to New Zealand’s unique avian species.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about John Oliver New Zealand Bird Vote

More about John Oliver New Zealand Bird Vote

• Forest and Bird: Bird of the Century
• John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight” Show
• New Zealand’s Native Bird Conservation
• Voting Controversies in New Zealand Bird Contest
• The Pūteketeke: New Zealand’s Water Bird
• The Significance of the Kiwi in New Zealand Culture
• Historical Overview of New Zealand’s Bird of the Year Contest