The northern royal albatross chick which hatched at Taiaroa Head in January has been named Moana.
Department of Conservation Otago spokeswoman Andrea Crawford said Moana received 348 or 31.67% of the 1099 public votes.
Earlier this month, a panel of Department of Conservation and Pukekura Co-Management Trust judges shortlisted five Maori names from the pool of more than 2000 bizarre and brilliant suggestions.
The shortlisted names were: Rereroa (flying over great distances), Kapehu (compass), Kaewa (wanderer, traveller, drifter, rover, rambler, adventurer), Kapua (cloud) and Moana (ocean, sea, wide expanse of water).
Kapua was the second most popular name, receiving 238 votes.
The winning name was announced during Moana's weekly weigh-in live on the royal-cam which streams footage of the chick to the world.
Pupils at room 7, Tainui School, were chosen as the overall winners of the naming competition. The pupils will visit Taiaroa Head as their prize.
Despite the chick's feminine new name, its gender remains unknown.
