09/09/2026
ATTENTION WELLINGTON: If your ferry looks a little smaller than usual today, don’t panic. 🐧
A giant kororā has arrived in Wellington Harbour, and it has BIG plans for Bird of the Year 2026.
We’re officially backing our little blue local: the kororā.
At just over 25 cm long, the kororā is the world’s smallest penguin. They spend much of their time at sea, diving for food, then come ashore after dark to rest and return to their nests.
And they really are Wellington locals.
Kororā nest around Wellington Harbour, including on Mātiu/Somes Island. With no cars or introduced predators like ferrets, stoats, weasels and dogs on the island, it provides an important safe place for kororā to nest, raise their young and moult.
So while we spend our days crossing the harbour, these tiny locals have their own version of the commute: out to sea to feed, then back to land after dark.
Tiny penguin. Big commute. Very Wellington.
Bird of the Year is a fun way to put a little more attention on the native birds sharing our backyard, and we reckon our tiny blue neighbours deserve a bit of Wellington support.
Voting is open now, and you can vote for up to five birds.
We’ve got our vote ready.
Now it’s your turn, Wellington.
VOTE KORORĀ 🐧💙
🇳🇿 WellingtonNZ
