32 votes

John Oliver backs ‘weird, puking’ pūteketeke as he takes New Zealand’s bird of century poll global

10 comments

  1. [3]
    kroket
    Link
    John Oliver has started a campaign for New Zealand's "Bird of the century" competition. Since anyone in the world can vote in this competition, his show has put out billboards all over the world...

    John Oliver has started a campaign for New Zealand's "Bird of the century" competition. Since anyone in the world can vote in this competition, his show has put out billboards all over the world to promote the Pūteketeke, the endangered bird of New Zealand that John Oliver is campaigning for. Just some delightful silliness for a worthy cause, if you ask me.

    9 votes
    1. Omnicrola
      Link Parent
      I really love when he does stupid stuff like that that also serves a good charity. My favorite might be the "war" on Danbury. I got a good hockey TShirt out of that.

      I really love when he does stupid stuff like that that also serves a good charity. My favorite might be the "war" on Danbury. I got a good hockey TShirt out of that.

      5 votes
    2. DefinitelyNotAFae
      Link Parent
      This was great, hopefully it raises money as well

      This was great, hopefully it raises money as well

      2 votes
  2. [4]
    PantsEnvy
    Link
    Update John Oliver ruffles feathers in New Zealand's Bird of the Century election While these are serious accusations about whether the Puteketeke is fit to be a candidate for bird of the year,...

    Update John Oliver ruffles feathers in New Zealand's Bird of the Century election

    The 46-year-old has a history of wading in on New Zealand issues, such as how to stop the country being left off world maps.

    However, the eligibility of the pūteketeke, also known as the Australasian crested grebe, for candidacy in the competition is now being called into question by the campaign team due to the fact it is found in both New Zealand and Australia.

    It has been accused of adding extra stars to the New Zealand flag and of calling flipflops "thongs" rather than "jandals" in reference to some of the well-known differences between the two countries.

    While these are serious accusations about whether the Puteketeke is fit to be a candidate for bird of the year, the article notes that two years ago the bird of the year was actually a bat.

    9 votes
    1. [2]
      jess
      Link Parent
      The bat one has a logical reasoning. The word for bird in Te Reo Maori is 'manu', which refers to any winged creature whether or not they have feathers or lay eggs. Birds, bats, and flying insects...

      The bat one has a logical reasoning. The word for bird in Te Reo Maori is 'manu', which refers to any winged creature whether or not they have feathers or lay eggs. Birds, bats, and flying insects are all legitimately 'manu'.

      That year they chose to follow that logic instead of the English one as a bit of fun.

      8 votes
      1. PantsEnvy
        Link Parent
        Yeah, the more serious allegation is that they are allowing a bird in that draws extra stars on the map and laughs at the way I pronounce fish & chips.

        Yeah, the more serious allegation is that they are allowing a bird in that draws extra stars on the map and laughs at the way I pronounce fish & chips.

        2 votes
    2. CannibalisticApple
      Link Parent
      The bat got a double-take from me. This is one of the most delightful articles I've read in a while, just all-around good fun. You can tell the writers of this article, and the bat one, had fun...

      The bat got a double-take from me. This is one of the most delightful articles I've read in a while, just all-around good fun. You can tell the writers of this article, and the bat one, had fun reporting on this news.

      3 votes
  3. [2]
    Fal
    Link
    John Oliver’s campaign delays New Zealand vote for its favorite bird

    John Oliver’s campaign delays New Zealand vote for its favorite bird

    Forest and Bird said vote checkers had been forced to take an extra two days to verify the hundreds of thousands of votes that had poured in by Sunday’s deadline. They now plan to announce a winner on Wednesday.

    “It’s been pretty crazy, in the best possible way,” Chief Executive Nicola Toki told The Associated Press.

    2 votes