The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan took to Instagram while seated next to Last Week Tonight host John Oliver to thank him for bringing the New Zealand Bird of the Year competition into the limelight around the world last year when he campaigned for the pūteketeke (Australasian crested grebe).
Oliver was appreciative of the sentiment, and praised all of the birds in this year’s competition.
But then he took a more mischievous turn.
"Let’s recognise all New Zealand birds, but let’s be clear, there is one bird that is better than all the others."
Keoghan rudely interrupted by asking if he meant this year’s winner, the hoiho.
But Oliver shot back "it was the pūteketeke" — the bird that won last year’s competition.
"You’re absolutely out of your mind. They should not be mentioned in the same sentence."
Keoghan suggested Oliver needed to keep up with the times and that the pūteketeke was "very last year".
"[The hoiho] is the bird that everybody is talking about.
Fortunately, cool minds prevailed in the argument — even when Oliver signed off on the social media post by saying, "Hoiho, hoiho, off to work you go. It’s pūteketeke for life".
New Zealand born and raised Keoghan was a prominent figure in championing the 2024 Bird of the Year campaign, and has helped bring global attention to Dunedin’s beloved hoiho penguin.
Tūhura Otago Museum ran a major campaign to get the rare bird voted as Bird of the Year, and museum marketing manager Charlie Buchan expressed their gratitude for Keoghan’s efforts.
"Phil has been amazing for our campaign, getting people from all over the world interested in the hoiho and its story.
"And there’s nothing better than getting the king of Bird of the Year, John Oliver, on board — even though it might be for the wrong bird."
Mr Buchan was delighted to see the hoiho and Dunedin in the global spotlight.
"With everything happening in the world, it's great to have something more light hearted to celebrate.
"Bird of the Year has made it to the Emmys, and so has the hoiho.
"We couldn’t be prouder."
