Moana Announced As 2026 Waiata Manu Artist
by Forest And Bird · SCOOPThe winner of Bird of the Year 2026 will have a waiata composed for it by Moana Maniapoto, Forest & Bird announced today.
Voting closes at 5pm today and the winner will be announced on Monday 21 September.
Waiata Manu honours each year's winning bird with an original waiata, produced by Delaney Davidson, with a different featured songwriter every year. Davidson conceived the series to carry on the tradition of Hirini Melbourne and the many waiata he wrote about the manu of Aotearoa.
The first Waiata Manu, for the kārearea, was written by Troy Kingi and Davidson after the 2025 election and recorded at Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios. It can be heard at forestandbird.org.nz/waiata-manu.
Moana said in a video statement that she jumped at the opportunity to collaborate when Delaney Davidson invited her.
“I've got Scotty Morrison and Paddy Free joining us and I’m very, very excited. It’s such a nice feeling to do something very positive,” Moana said.
Delaney Davidson says, "I would love these songs to be something we all learn to sing. We teach them in schools. We learn about the manu by singing the songs. We honour the whenua and we honour the manu. We transform ourselves into manu by singing. And I see us building on Hirini's tradition by creating a vast treasury of songs, like a forest, full of magic."
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Behind the fun, Waiata Manu carries a serious message. More than 80% of Aotearoa New Zealand's native birds are threatened or at risk of extinction.
"Each song will shine a spotlight on the winning species - helping people to fall in love with these birds, understand the challenges they face, and take action to protect them,” says Rebecca Hatch, Forest & Bird's Group Manager, Growing Support.
Voting is open until 5pm Sunday 20 September at birdoftheyear.org.nz.
NOTE:
Bird of the Year | Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau is Forest & Bird's annual public vote for the nation's favourite native bird, running since 2005. In 2025 it drew more than 75,000 voters across 123 countries, with 87% of votes cast within New Zealand. This year, more than 70 native birds are campaigning for votes across seven parties.
Voting runs from 4 to 20 September 2026, with the winner announced on 21 September. Vote at birdoftheyear.org.nz. Follow along with #BOTYNZ and #BOTY2026.
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