- Conservation status
- In some trouble
Kuaka breed in Alaska and return to Aotearoa and eastern Australia each year with about 80,000 of their whānau. These troopers take the longest non-stop flight of any bird because they do not rest or feed on the sea. Even more amazingly, young birds make the same journey at just four months old.
Kuaka won Bird of the Year in 2015.
Campaign Manager
Ben Offner
For Tangata Whenua the Kuaka is a bird of mystery and feature prominently in Maori mythology. Kupe is said to have followed the flight path of the Kuaka on his voyage through the Pacific, knowing the Kuaka is a land bird and would eventually make landfall. Now the Kuaka is acknowledged as the long haul specialist holding the world record for the longest migratory flight. A true wonder in the natural world, a world record holder, an icon of kiwi persistence and commitment to excellence, the Kuaka naturally deserves to be 2025 Bird of the Year!
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