Help us crown Kākāriki Karaka Bird of the Year for 2026!

Selwyn Libraries is campaigning this year in support of our little forest-dwelling neighbours, the kākāriki karaka. This precious parakeet needs all the help it can get to survive and thrive, so make sure you follow our campaign over the next few weeks to learn more about this manu (bird), and vote kākāriki karaka for Bird of the Year.

Help protect this tiny taonga, vote kākāriki karaka and show your love to the tree birds!

Image: Department of Conservation

How do I vote?

Voting for Bird of the Year is open from 4-20 September, on the Bird of the Year website.

Why kākāriki karaka?

As a safe space for readers and introverts, we at Selwyn Libraries feel a special connection to this inquisitive, but shy parakeet. Having been declared extinct twice before their rediscovery in the late 1980s, the kākāriki karaka has a comeback story that rivals the best in our fiction section. With only 450 remaining in the wild (including a population in the Hawdon Valley, right here in Selwyn), these cute little guys need our support to ensure they’re not relegated to the rare birds collection forever.

How do I follow the campaign?

Keep an eye on our Facebook Page and visit our Selwyn Libraries branches for upcoming campaign fun, including some special kākāriki karaka storytimes and a colouring competition for tamariki, as well as lots of opportunities to learn more about this amazing manu and how you can help support its recovery.