John Oliver Hilarious Campaign for New Zealand : The comedian turned campaign manager supports the pūteketeke bird with fun facts and humor, but faces some feathered competition.
John Oliver is making a unique campaign move in New Zealand’s Bird of the Century poll. He’s backing the pūteketeke bird, also known as the Australasian crested grebe, in a competition organized by the conservation group Forest & Bird. Oliver’s endorsement is marked by quirky fun facts about these colorful avians.
The pūteketeke parents carry their babies on their backs, share egg incubation duties, and have a peculiar habit of eating feathers before regurgitating them with fish bones. Their name, pūteketeke, rolls off the tongue like a dance.
To amplify his message, Oliver’s show unveiled billboards worldwide, from New Zealand to Tokyo, Paris, London, and even Manetowoc, Wisconsin. However, the Bird of the Century contest, intended to raise awareness about New Zealand’s endangered birds, has seen its share of controversies in the past, including an unexpected win by a bat in 2021 and concerns about voter fraud.
Nonetheless, Oliver’s campaign has already generated significant interest, with over 10,000 votes cast overnight. In his characteristic humor, Oliver joked that this is “what democracy is all about – America interfering in foreign elections.” While supporters of rival birds might be salty, in Oliver’s view, there’s no bird more deserving of the title than the pūteketeke.
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