Weka the video star yet underdog for Bird of the Year   28 Oct 2016

Fiona Powell

27 October 2016

Weka the video star yet underdog for Bird of the Year

The Weka is a caramel coloured, hen-like, flightless bird unique to New Zealand. The Weka is classified as vulnerable/ threatened due to predation from introduced predators like rats, mustelids, feral cats and dogs. Many New Zealanders have never seen a Weka; yet many of our tourists have – believing they’ve spotted a Kiwi in day light.

During the recent Olympics a video of the ‘Weka Olympics’ went viral – and over half a million potential tourists to New Zealand from China to London claimed they wanted to see a Weka.

Creator of the Weka Olympics video and campaigner for the Weka to win ‘Bird of the Year’, Fiona Powell has made other videos showcasing the Weka and their prowess for dancing, stealing and being romantics.

While the Weka antics rack up the most video views, comments, shares and likes, their votes for ‘Bird of the Year’ lag far behind – just over 200, when they need over 2000 to win.

“The Weka is a curious, bold and feisty bird – but it’s also threatened by predators being flightless,” says Powell. “We want to raise awareness of their vulnerability by winning Bird of the Year.

“Anyone who has met a Weka has a memorable experience (especially our tourists). They describe their interaction with great hilarity; usually how the Weka - with great stealth - stole food, or a spoon or a bag. Or pecked someone’s toes. But the Weka is always forgiven. It’s almost a rite of passage for our visitors to meet a Weka,” says Powell.

Unfortunately, like many of our native birds, Weka are also vulnerable to introduced predators – especially being flightless.

And to prove the vulnerability of the Weka, both ‘Weka for Bird of the Year’ campaigners have sadly lost their favourite Weka. “W the Weka, the star of most of my videos, disappeared about three weeks before the campaign, and has not been seen since. I miss his antics and his presence after a year of him popping up every day,” says Powell, who lives on a pest free island in the Hauraki Gulf.

Meanwhile ‘Jonny Prepper’ last sighted his resident Weka family of Jeffrey and Sky (and offspring Max and Hope) four weeks before the campaign. Prepper’s Nelson property is a thoroughfare for feral cats and pigs which he traps regularly.

“A vote for Weka to win ‘Bird of the Year’ will raise awareness of the Weka, both their cheeky personalities and their vulnerability to predators,” says Powell.

Voting for ‘Bird of the Year’ closes 30th October at 5pm and the winner will be announcedMonday morning. Vote at www.birdoftheyear.org.nz

Watch Weka videos:

Meet the mighty but vulnerable Weka: https://youtu.be/uac0YInsqaE

Meet W the Weka – and follow a day in his life: https://youtu.be/7DT3JQC6S80

ENDS

Add a comment

News

Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students

29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more

New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process

7 Mar 2020 News By Rt HON WINSTON PETERS
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more

Business

NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19

17 Mar 2020 Business News By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more

NZ Government announces aviation relief package

19 Mar 2020 Business News By Hon Phil Twyford
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more

Living

Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London

6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall. It was the first... more

Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate

12 Jan 2022 Arts By Charlotte Everett
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...  New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more

Property

Fairer rules for tenants and landlords

17 Nov 2019 Property By Minister Kris Faafoi
17 NOVEMBER 2019 The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more

New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax

17 Apr 2019 Property By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more

Migration

Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued

19 Nov 2019 Migration By Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
19 NOVEMBER 2019 We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more

Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location

18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018 HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more

Travel

Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more

New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas more

Sport

The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners

27 Oct 2019 Cricket By Charlotte Everett
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more

PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final

26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more

Columns

Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade

11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade First published on Werewolf The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more

Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome

10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell   Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more

Kiwi Success

Congratulations to Loder Cup winner

26 Sep 2018 People By Hon Eugenie Sage
25 SEPTEMBER 2018 The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more

Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO

16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO HON JENNY SALESA Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more

Recruitment

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

14 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

22 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more