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| Celebrity Campaign Shines Spotlight on New Zealand Bird Contest | Celebrity Campaign Shines Spotlight on New Zealand Bird Contest |
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| The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. | The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. |
| Like so many modern elections, the poll to decide New Zealand’s favorite bird has, in past years, been beset by accusations of vote rigging, foreign influence and debates about candidates’ eligibility. | Like so many modern elections, the poll to decide New Zealand’s favorite bird has, in past years, been beset by accusations of vote rigging, foreign influence and debates about candidates’ eligibility. |
| But this year, the Bird of the Century contest has experienced its biggest controversy yet. The polling verification system was overwhelmed with an influx of votes after the American comedian John Oliver ran a self-described “alarmingly aggressive” campaign for the little-known pūteketeke — also known as the Australasian crested grebe — which he described as “weird puking birds with colorful mullets.” | But this year, the Bird of the Century contest has experienced its biggest controversy yet. The polling verification system was overwhelmed with an influx of votes after the American comedian John Oliver ran a self-described “alarmingly aggressive” campaign for the little-known pūteketeke — also known as the Australasian crested grebe — which he described as “weird puking birds with colorful mullets.” |
| Mr. Oliver paid for billboard advertisements in a number of countries including New Zealand, France, Japan and the United States, encouraging residents to vote in the poll — which is not restricted to New Zealanders. | Mr. Oliver paid for billboard advertisements in a number of countries including New Zealand, France, Japan and the United States, encouraging residents to vote in the poll — which is not restricted to New Zealanders. |
| “This is what democracy is all about: America interfering in foreign elections,” Mr. Oliver said on his weekly show, “Last Week Tonight.” He also highlighted some of the unique traits of the species, including carrying their young on their back and a mating dance in which “they both grab a clump of wet grass and chest bump each other before standing around unsure of what to do next.” | “This is what democracy is all about: America interfering in foreign elections,” Mr. Oliver said on his weekly show, “Last Week Tonight.” He also highlighted some of the unique traits of the species, including carrying their young on their back and a mating dance in which “they both grab a clump of wet grass and chest bump each other before standing around unsure of what to do next.” |
| On Wednesday, Forest and Bird, the nonprofit that runs the contest, announced that the pūteketeke had won with over 290,000 votes — over 24 times more votes than the runner-up. | |
| The poll has run since 2005 and is a testament to New Zealanders’ love for their native birds — many of which are unique to the nation and are under threat from introduced species. Last year, the contest received nearly 52,000 votes, compared to this year’s 350,000. |