CNN —John Oliver is transforming from a comedian into a campaign manager for one of the biggest elections of the year: New Zealand’s Bird of the Century poll. On his show “Last Week Tonight” on Monday, he backed the pūteketeke bird as New Zealand’s Bird of the Century, a competition organized by the conservation group Forest & Bird. John Oliver loves the pūteketeke for its 'colorful mullet,' among other reasons. Initially launched to raise awareness of New Zealand’s endangered, endemic birds, the contest is usually an annual two-week event and has become a national institution. A bat, rather than a bird, won the competition in 2021, while mass voter fraud threatened to delegitimize the competition the year before.

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Persons: John Oliver, Oliver Smart, Oliver, ”, ” Oliver Organizations: CNN, Wings, @Last Locations: New Zealand, Tokyo, Europe, Paris, London, ”, Brazil, Ipanema Beach, Manetowoc , Wisconsin