"In a competition that was any bird's to win, they showed up with the goods to capture hearts and minds across Aotearoa," said Nicola Toki, who is the chief executive of Forest & Bird.
Toki is referring to the group that championed hoiho. That effort included a museum, a rugby team and a brewery that celebrated the "people's penguin" with a special drink.
The runner-up was the karure, which was represented by a university student organization, and was promoted with bird costumes and memes.
The hoiho, which has seen its population dip nearly 80% within a 15-year period, was honored at the perfect time, according to Toki.
"Hoiho are being hammered from all angles," he said. "They suffer from horrible diseases like diphtheria and get attacked by dogs. Tiny, vulnerable chicks are threatened by introduced predators like cats, stoats and ferrets that can wipe out an entire breeding site in a single season."
Goodall also offered her support for the hoiho's win.
Last year, John Oliver backed the Puteketeke as "bird of the century" with an elaborate campaign of his own.
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