Kākā-crazy college students
From left are Nelson College Year 9 students Jason Sinclair, Tate Adler, Ludvig Persson, Hugo Fraser, Zechariah Vaigafa, Blake Chadwick (holding the mascot), Cole Mulder (back) Anthony Turnbull (front), Zac Fleming, Ashton Proctor and Joel Stobie, who are the official ambassadors for the kākā in the 2024 Bird of the Year competition. Photo: Kate Russell.
What does the kākā have in common with the average Nelson College student?
It’s cheeky, loud, clever, and can’t be trusted around chips.
Well, that’s according to the school’s social sciences teacher, David Van der Velden, who is helping his two Year 9 classes campaign for the bird to be this year’s ‘Bird of the Year’.
The nationwide competition, run by Forest and Bird, sees local groups and organisations campaign for a New Zealand native bird.
Anyone can go online and place a vote, and the bird with the most votes by this Sunday at 5pm will be crowned the ‘Bird of the Year’ for 2024. Since the competition began in 2005, the kākā has never taken the title.
The students say they are proud to be the official ambassadors for the sociable parrot that is generally heard before it is seen.
“It’s their personality and interactions with humans… stealing food,” says Hugo Fraser.
“It’s definitely the funniest bird.”
In addition to making memes, getting themselves on The Hoon podcast, and creating Facebook and Instagram pages, the boys also have a special mascot to help them reach winning status.
This is ‘Vlad, the Impaler of Worms’, a very cute kākā soft toy.
You can call him ‘Imp’ for short, and you’ll see him around the school and the wider region in a dapper striped Nelson College vest, knitted by Miss Nicholls the chemistry teacher.
So far, he has been on plenty of adventures, including trips to the Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes, and even Motueka for a round of golf.
They are also hoping for a celebrity endorsement from Snoop Dogg and have written him a letter, but have not heard back yet.
The boys say they have been learning a lot on the campaign trail, including about endangered birds and invasive species.
Today it is estimated that there are fewer than 10,000 kākā left in New Zealand. Requiring large areas of forest to survive, habitat loss from forest clearance for agriculture and logging have had a devastating effect, as have introduced pests.
David says they all have just two words for Nelsonians.
“Vote kākā.”
And if kākā reigns the supreme bird, Imp may even celebrate with a victory lap around the school, and perhaps impale a few worms.
To vote, go here by 15 September.