Introducing Kiwa, the winning name for this year's Royal Cam chick.
We had 285 votes for the winning name Kiwa and 267 votes for the second-place name, Taitoa.
We had 103 people submit their name suggestion and had over 1200 amount of people vote for their favourite name.
Throughout the competition we had lots of awesome actions submitted too.
This year's competition theme is ‘What happens on land, impacts our oceans’.
Clean water is important to all living things. Since water flows from streams and rivers to the ocean, what you do on land impacts our oceans and the animals in them, such as the Royal albatross.
This theme aims to strengthen our connection to albatrosses and seabirds, no matter where we are in the world. Our lifestyle choices impact these important and protected species and their habitats.
Name suggestions had to be submitted with a photo through our website. The photo had to show the person taking a sustainable action for the health and wellbeing of our oceans.
We worked with Te Poāri a Pukekura to produce a list of the top 10 names for public vote. The vote inviting the public to choose their favourite name closed 26 September at 5 pm (NZST).
The ten names selected to be voted on for the 2024 chick are in Te Reo Māori. Below you can see each of the names that were chosen for voting, their meaning and what inspired each entrant to submit them.
The Manaia is a guardian of the sky, sea and land and is traditionally believed to be a messenger between the spiritual and physical world.
Meaning clean or clear water, this is often used to describe clear flowing rivers or streams. Clean water is essential for our nature to thrive.
The divine protector and guardian of the ocean and the name is fitting for our albatross as it's renowned for travelling great distances over vast stretches of water.
Meaning survivor or remnant. Our seabird species are under threat from human activities. Fishing, plastics pollution to name two. These birds need our help to survive in a changing world.
Meaning star or celestial body. The chick is a star of the Royal Cam, and to see these birds flying is breathtaking, just like looking at the stars at night.
The albatross chick has shown himself to be brave and bold and somewhat feisty! He hasn't liked being weighed much and clacks, and he has wandered from his nest quite early on. I like his courageous nature and hope it helps him when he fledges to survive in the wild.
These birds are a treasure. Marihi means precious, prized or valuable. The theme of this name carries through to protection of our shores and water we must all actively nurture our precious environment for future generations.
It means joy or happiness in Te Reo Māori. This chick always looks happy when I check the camera they definitely bring joy to people all around the world.
Meaning wanderer or adventurer, which the chick certainly seems to be. He has left his natal nest to be on the edge of the Heads, where he has an expansive view. He will soon spread his wings and fly over the seas. A wanderer he is.
Meaning gentle in Maori, it is to show not only the chick’s nature but also that we must be gentle with them and gentle with environment. They are also indicators of our planet’s health, and our oceans. It is difficult life for them due to human activities like pollution and overfishing.
Congratulations to our winner: Tinaka McLeod won $300 worth of sustainable/environmentally friendly household products and a virtual tour of the headland with DOC Ranger Sharyn Broni.
Congratulations to our second-place winner: Lindsay Jackson won $100 worth of sustainable/environmentally friendly household products.
Congratulations to our spot prize winner: Lee Taiapa won a copy of ‘Wildlife of Aotearoa’ book, signed by author Gavin Bishop.
Thanks to the Royal Albatross Centre for supporting some of the competition prizes.