The Bird of the Year contest in New Zealand announced the kārearea, or New Zealand falcon, as the 2025 winner on Monday, September 29, 2025. The contest started in 2005 as a small online poll but has grown into a national event. This year, more than 75,000 people voted, and 87 percent of the votes came from inside New Zealand. The kārearea, which can fly faster than 200 kilometers per hour, received more than 14,500 votes. The group Forest & Bird explained that the goal of the contest is to show the difficult situation of native birds, with 80 percent in danger. The falcon is hard to see in nature and is still at risk from losing forests and from power lines.

The event has changed into a bigger campaign with posters, internet messages, and shows. Experts said the vote helps people learn about birds and their problems, with only 5,000 to 8,000 falcons left. In the past, unusual results created debate, such as when a bat won in 2021. In 2023, a foreign campaign made the pūteketeke win with 290,000 votes. Forest & Bird warned that less government money could make it harder to protect birds. The kārearea was called a strong and special winner.