Forest & Bird
@Forest_and_Bird
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Protecting our native plants, animals and wild places, on land and in our oceans. Authorised by Forest & Bird, 205 Victoria Street, Wellington 6011.
Joined May 2009
Your #BirdOfTheYear for 2018 is that absolute unit, the roundest boi, the devourer of fruit, the whooshiest of whooshes, the mighty kerurū. A big round of applause for the kererū, as well as for @Kereru4PM who ran a top campaign.
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BREAKING NEWS: In a stunning upset the kākāpō swoops in from behind to claw the title of #BirdOfTheYear 2020 away from competition front-runner - the toroa/Antipodean albatross. The kākāpō makes history as the first bird to win Bird of the Year twice!
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BEAKING NEWS: Pūteketeke pandemonium prevails! The pūteketeke Australasian crested grebe has won Bird of the Century 2023 @lastweektonight. Read more: 📹: Tom Sainsbury
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BREAKING: It's reigning wrens!!. Congratulations, pīwauwau! The rock wren has reached the pinnacle of avian achievement, taking out the title for Bird of the Year 2022. From #Underbird to #Wonderbird 💛💚.
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The hoiho has made history today! In a huge upset, the hoiho has come from behind to shatter the feathered ceiling, and become the first penguin to win #BirdoftheYear.
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An Australian billionaire wants to be allowed to explore for minerals in the pristine Coromandel Forest Park, home to incredible ngāhere and Archey’s frogs. We think this is unacceptable! The PM needs to step up & protect conservation land from mining.
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A huge congratulations to the pekapeka long-tailed bat for winning #BirdoftheYear 2021! 🦇🏆. Despite being our only endemic land mammal, most people don't even know they exist, which makes their win even more outstanding.
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BREAKING: Forest & Bird delays Bird of the Century winner announcement following a massive influx of hundreds of thousands of votes. The winner will be announced on the morning of Wed 15 November NZ time. Voting still closes 5pm NZDT Sun 12 November. 1/5
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Jon Oliver's campaign for the Pūteketeke to win Bird of the Century has kicked off with more than 10,000 votes coming in overnight! Verifying emails is a massive ongoing job - as you can imagine!!.
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Kia ora koutou katoa, This morning we have 71 birds seeking your vote in New Zealand. Voting has now opened for #BirdoftheYear, and we're urging all New Zealanders to vote today.
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BIG NEWS - we've just heard that we won the Taranaki seabed mining decision, and our blue whales are safe! More details soon!.
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Just to let you know, we still accept paper votes. Like this one from 87 yr old Mona, who doesn't use a computer but still really wanted to vote for the South Island #tomtit for #BirdOfTheYear ❤️🐦🏆. Make sure you get them to us before 5pm on Sunday 14 October.
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Want some good news?! You sure do! Forest & Bird just won better legal protection for mangrove forests in the high court. They're now covered by the.
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A great little demonstration of how mangroves protect our coasts from storms.
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MEDIA RELEASE: Forest & Bird has WON in the Supreme Court against a coal mining company trying to push through an opencast coal mine on the West Coast. This judgement keeps reserves all over New Zealand safer.
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Say hello to your new #BirdOfTheYear - the kea! It flew into first place with a record breaking 7,311 votes.
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The SPCA got it sadly wrong. Hopefully we can meet with them soon to explain why stoats and rats don't care about a peaceful coexistence with NZ's native animals.
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Shoutout to whoever spent their day photoshopping nipple clamps onto a hihi. This is def the horniest #BirdoftheYear yet.
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John Oliver is at it again - this time talking to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in full pūteketeke costume 😂Waiting for the countermoves from our NZ-based campaign managers! This election campaign is a hoot 🦉🦉🦉Vote here
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BREAKING: Forest & Bird has won their fight to protect Ruahine Forest Park from being downgraded and swapped to build the Ruataniwha Dam.
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UPDATE: More egg-citing news as Bird of the Century runners-up are announced!! Our top 10 are….Pūteketeke Australasian crested grebe.North Island brown kiwi.Kea.Kākāpō.Pīwakawaka Fantail.Tawaki piki toka Eastern rockhopper penguin.Karure | Kakaruia Black robin.Huia.Tūī.Takahē
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The Government is proposing to push through drastic changes that will weaken protection of our natural environment at a time when we are facing a climate and biodiversity crisis - without letting the public have their say. It's death by 1000 cuts😢.
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We're going to Count. Every. Vote. #birdoftheyear.
Orange-fronted parakeet/kākāriki karaka have claimed, for #birdoftheyear purposes, the title of @Forest_and_Bird's bird of the year for 2020. We have a BIG lead. Additionally, we herby claim the title for 2021 as well.
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The @RNZSPCA’s statement calling for 1080 to be banned shows a naïve failure to understand how nature works in the wild. We will be seeking a meeting with the organisation to discuss its position.
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BREAKING NEWS: Voter fraud has been discovered by our vote counters for #BirdOfTheYear . Over 1500 illegitimate votes were made between 1am - 3am on Monday for the kiwi pukupuku/little-spotted kiwi.
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MEDIA RELEASE: A visibly drunk kererū has called a snap election. New Zealand will go to the polls to vote for the 2019 #BirdoftheYear between 28Oct-10Nov.
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New Zealand has been dishonoured with the infamous ‘Fossil of the Day’ award at COP28 for the newly formed government’s decision to overturn the existing world-leading ban on new oil and gas exploration. It involved lots of ENGOs pushing for this award.
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For those of you eagerly awaiting election results, here's an update from #BirdoftheYear. After 5 days of voting & almost 25k votes, here's the current top 10. The toroa is No 1, but that cld change quick with plenty of votes to come in & vote transfers under STV.
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🚨 IT IS TIME 🚨. 71 outstanding birds are vying for your votes. Who will come out as #BirdOfTheYear2022? Vote now!.
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In a hugely significant decision, the Govt has said no to digging up coal on conservation land at Te Kuha. Future generations of New Zealanders, fernbirds and forests give thanks. We hope this means the end of the planned mine.
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Pest 👏 control 👏 works 👏.
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Is it wrong to tell international media that #BirdOfTheYear is a very serious national issue and the whole country has come to a standstill while electoral fraud issues are litigated? Asking for a friend. .
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Congratulations @KiriAllan, newly announced Minister for Conservation. As your first official duty, Forest & Bird invite you to NZ's biggest political-enviro controversy - who're you backing for #BirdOfTheYear2020?!.
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Watch John Oliver's full segment here - including John announcing the pūteketeke as "Lord of the Wings" 😆.
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Last night, #BirdoftheCentury’s victorious campaign manager John Oliver thanked all the "good, bird-loving people” who voted for the pūteketeke. We want to give our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of our 380,000+ voters too. It’s been a wild ride!.
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Great news! We're really pleased the SPCA have followed up on their commitment to us, and publicly clarified that they do not support a ban on 1080.
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Apologies! We've got about 100 times more traffic than usual, so that's put strain on our email system. Our team will be going through your emails and will be verifying them manually. Thanks for your patience - and for supporting Bird of the Century💚.
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At a time when people right around the globe have been sharing their love for NZ’s birdlife by voting in Bird of the Century, it's gutting that tiny not-for-profits are having to fight for the very places where threatened wildlife should be safe.
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Last night, we had 310 dubious votes for the shag from an I.P. address in Australia. Thankfully, @dflydsci are on the case as our official scrutineers. They picked up the votes and shut them down. #BirdOfTheYear
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Today we launched a series of billboards telling it how it is in Aotaroa NZ. Back in 2017, Prime Minister Ardern said that climate change is her generation’s nuclear-free moment. Since then, there's been
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"The pūteketeke came close to being wiped out when its numbers plummeted to 200 in the 1980s. Thanks to conservation efforts, its population has grown to about 2000 across its homelands in New Zealand and Australia.".
New Zealand's Bird of the Year competition has been hilariously "undermined" by US comedian John Oliver on Jimmy Fallon. I spoke to competition organisers at @Forest_and_Bird this morning.
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Check out this awesome animation of the votes rolling in for #BirdoftheYear. This is based on just the 1st pref votes, but still fascinating to watch the lead change so many times. Big thanks to @dflydsci for making this.
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You know why it's called 2020's most important* election? Because 55,583 of you just set a freaking record, that's why! #birdoftheyear2020.
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It's over. The Supreme Court has turfed out TTR's seabed mining plan. Now's the time for a permanent ban on seabed mining. The health of the environment shouldn't depend on iwi and NGO's fighting at the EPA, and through THREE courts for four years.
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The letter from @cjsbishop is not just an attack on our environment, our democracy & the Kiwi way of life. Removing the rights of communities so special interests can push through environmentally destructive projects shows disdain for our rights & our unique wildlife.
The Government is proposing to push through drastic changes that will weaken protection of our natural environment at a time when we are facing a climate and biodiversity crisis - without letting the public have their say. It's death by 1000 cuts😢.
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So, the gov't is trashing the regional economy by ending new offshore oil & gas? Let's not forget the economics have become so marginal that oil giants Andarko, Statoil and Petrobras all chose to relinquish their permits in recent years
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We're not stopping!! Today Forest & Bird members were on the spectacular Denniston Plateau - another publicly owned conservation area earmarked for mining. It's time for the Labour govt to keep their promise and stop new mining activities on public conservation land.
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Worse and worse: Official autopsy results show the native weka left on Parly steps during anti-1080 protest was actually shot with a .22 rifle. This is a crime. We hope Alan Gurden will front up with the truth.
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The image below is a great example of our extreme history of land clearance to farm animals is coming home to roost. Naked steep hillsides are quick to slip. We should retire marginal land and return it to native forests and enable landowners to claim carbon credits. 1/2.
@ruralmaori @__Sharon______ It's a post from an aerial spreading buisness based out of Napier. They've been flying in supplies to remote farms and took a bunch of photos like this.
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Look what you get when you attach a GPS tracker to a yellow-eyed penguin/hoiho fledgling. Our South Otago branch and researcher Mel Young are watching this one head steadily north. they reckon it's off to Wellington to lobby for a marine reserve in its Catlins home!
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Adult male tuatara have no penis but their embryos do and scientists have digitally reconstructed their genitals!
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Just look at these chonks! <3.
Another lovely pic from ranger Lisa van Beek of #takahe in the snow yesterday. Our takahē 'farm' near Te Anau is the engine of #takaherecovery, and the biggest driver of the ~10% p.a. population growth of recent years. #conservation
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Get excited because voting for #BirdOfTheYear is now open! Head to place your vote, and may the best bird win.
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Really pleased with the High Court's decision on Tahr today. Key points: 1) National Parks are for native species not bull tahr - or trophy hunters. 2) Tahr cull can begin while DOC meet with hunter to discuss detail. 3) Tahr are to be kept at fewer than 10,000.
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More than $1b on nature-based jobs. Nearly all a focus of Forest & Bird's campaigning over the last years: wallabies, North Island forests, rivers and weeds, wilding pines, biodiversity on private land (most of NZ btw). #Budget2020 #nzpol.
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FINAL COUNTDOWN! 🕑You have until 5pm tonight, Sunday 12 Nov (NZDT), to have your say in who will be crowned Bird of the Century. Now is your chance to cast your vote in the world’s most important bird poll at 💚.Winner announced in the AM on Weds 15 Nov!
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Who's ready for some GREAT NEWS?? The Court of Appeal has just ruled the EPA was WRONG to let TTR mine the Taranaki seabed. It's time to build an economy that protects and restores our environment. We need nature, and nature needs us to protect it every day.
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Voting for #BirdOfTheYear2020 has closed! Our team of Pennsylvania- based scrutineers are now diligently counting your votes so we'll defo have a result b4 xmas. JKing -See you on @radionz 8:45 Monday am for 2020's BIRD OF THE YEAR!.
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While the idea of stoats and rats peacefully coexisting with native birds sounds great, the reality is that an estimated 25 million native birds, eggs and chicks are cruelly eaten alive by introduced predators every year in New Zealand.
Their position reflects their history of caring for domesticated animals such as cats and dogs, without understanding the needs of New Zealand’s native animals and ecosystems.
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It’s ours and it won’t be mined! Huge victory for the environment - the Government has announced an end to new mines on conservation land.
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BREAKING: Minister has poured cold water on the fishing industry's request to suppress bycatch images! Good call @Stuart_NashMP.
Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash has rejected requests from the fishing industry to make footage gathered on boats exempt from the Official Information Act.
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This should give you an idea how close things are in this #BirdoftheYear . The lead has swapped several times since the start.
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A kōtare (kingfisher) in Lower Hutt does its part to help make New Zealand #PredatorFree by 2050 (📷 by Martin Tonks)
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We hear you. That's why Bird of the year is STV this year. Rank your favourite 5 birds. You can even vote for all the kiwi species, if you want.
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Voting is now OPEN for #BirdoftheYear 2019!!!!!!!. Remember to check your SPAM mailbox for the confirmation email. Your votes won't count until you confirm your vote using the code in there.
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Laura Young takes a call from Donald Trump* congratulating her on kea's win. He passes on warm regards to the birds of NZ. #BirdOfTheYear
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PRESS RELEASE: We're appalled to learn that five Antipodean albatross have died in a single long lining incident. This comes less than a day after revelations of the deaths of four Hectors dolphins. This is why we need #CamerasOnBoats
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We're at the halfway point in #BirdOfTheYear 2021 and the pekapeka 🦇 is out in front. But we all remember what happened last year, so this could be anyone's race with plenty of votes still to come.
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We've revealed that the fishing industry is lobbying govt to make damaging photos/video of bycatch exempt from OIA. Here's a thought: If they don't want the public to see pics of dead dolphins, maybe they should stop killing them.
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🚨 BREAKING . Forget Bird of the Year. In 2023, the stakes are even higher. Introducing: Bird of the Century. @naturevision announced the theme this morning at our conference, to celebrate our 100th birthday 🥳.
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Some happy wildlife news from Kaikoura where the main korora penguin colony has remained mostly unscathed! #EQNZ
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Anti-1080 protesters vandalised a community trapping project near Paihia, kicking over stoat traps and defacing signs. But please, tell us again how these people are motivated by concern for the environment?
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The good news is us humans can help with most hoiho troubles. For a start - how about a marine reserve in the Catlins, where hoiho feed and hang out?.
And the #BirdoftheYear is. My @NZStuff @dompost #cartoon #Hoiho #Environment #plasticpollution #birds #penguins
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This kauri tree is 121 years older than the Treaty of Waitangi, but it will still be cut down. This is a major failing in the RMA. We hope to see a law change come through soon - too late for this tree though.
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As we go into the final weekend of voting for #BirdoftheYear 2020, here's the current rankings. It's going to be a close one this year folks! . You have till 5pm on Sunday 15 Nov to make your vote. Head along to and pick your top five.
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The 2022 whitebaiting season starts today, with a shorter season from now on. While this is an improvement for the sustainable management of the fishery, we’re still missing the most basic parts of any managed fishery: a catch limit, a licensing system & data collection. 1/2
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We’re deeply disappointed at today's lost opportunity to create economic mechanisms for protecting the environment. Nature is in crisis, and it will take determination and urgency to fix it. A pollution tax would have been a huge step in the right direction.
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In the interests of not upstaging the general election, or having the banded dotteral accidentally elected as leader of the government, we will be making an annoucement on the Bird of the Year 2020 date shortly. .
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What a clever kerfuffle of feathery shenanigans we have going on in this election campaign!🤣Team Takahē have dialled their support for their feisty candidate up a tad by calling the Pūteketeke “unfit to serve as Bird of the Century”. Make your vote count
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#BirdOfTheYear now features the conservation status of each bird, showing their desperate situation. 1 in 3 is at risk of becoming extinct.
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Here's a happy thought: One of our rarest birds had a bumper year and right now, 100s of orange fronted kakariki are hanging out together, enjoying life in the beech and matagouri forests of Canterbury. With love, care, and expertise, things will improve.
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We're devastated that mining in a Maui sanctuary is a possibility. Our team is working hard to stop it going ahead, ever. There are only 57 of these dolphins left. It is unacceptable they dont have the fullest protection possible. That means - No Mining.
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Press Release: New Zealand’s peat wetlands are more powerful than tropical forests at absorbing carbon. They hold twice as much carbon as all of the world’s forests combined, yet cover only about 3% of earth’s land surface. #WorldWetlandsDay
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Vote for 4000 native species threatened with extinction. Vote for conservation land, including stewardship land. Vote for clean rivers and lakes. Vote for native fish. Vote for a safe climate. Vote for our oceans. Vote for a recovery for people and the planet. Vote for nature.
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Bet you didn't know this about our 2018 #BirdoftheYear winner - the kererū #UnscienceAnAnimal
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Sorry to interrupt your breakfast, but #BirdOfTheYear voting is now open! Time to get your mates, whānau, co-workers, the person sitting next to you on the bus, pretty much anyone really, to vote for your favourite bird.
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Deer, pig, and goat numbers are so high our forests are getting cleaned out. No new trees means no mature forests. Forest & Bird and other land owners are putting up fences to keep feral deer OUT. Sunday will be a must watch tonight.
Tune into @SundayTVNZ 7.30pm . See impacts deer, goats & pigs are having on our remaining indigenous forests. Heartening that this issue is finally being elevated to new levels of national awareness. @docgovtnz #resilientforests
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MEDIA RELEASE: Forest & Bird says the Green Party’s Farming for the Future policy, released today, is the kind of economic transformation all political parties should be offering as part of New Zealand’s COVID recovery.
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Today is a great day for the climate, with the Environment Court turning down an opencast coal mine on a pristine mountain top at Te Kuha. Thanks to our amazing legal team, we’ve consistently won against the mining company over years of proceedings. 1/2.
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It’s been a whirlwind of pushback from Kiwis & local media to John Oliver’s pūteketeke Bird of the Century campaign & our birds are loving the attention and your support! For those who've had difficulty voting - we are onto it & your vote will be counted!
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Voting has closed for #BirdoftheYear. Did you get yours in? Thanks to all our campaign mgrs for relentlessly and ruthlessly pitching their bird's weirdest qualities to the globe. And now the truth is out - all NZ birds are winners! (@radionz 8:45am for 2019's *actual* best birb).
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It's been a big day. This is the first of many events where we remind the PM and the NZ Labour govt of their promise to end new mines on conservation land. This photo is near a proposed mine site, on public conservation land. Press release out soon. #NoNewMines
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