🌿 Welcome to the Wild World of Aotearoa’s “Bugs”!

Aotearoa is home to thousands of fascinating insects, spiders, slugs, snails, centipedes, and springtails. These tiny legends make up more than half of our animal diversity, and many of them are true Kiwis—found nowhere else on the planet!

Beyond just looking cool, they are the unsung heroes of our ecosystems. They provide a feast for our birds and fish, pollinate our crops, keep our soil healthy, and handle the messy job of decomposition. Basically, they keep our backyards buzzing and our planet breathing.

🏆 The 2026 Nominees: A Taxonomic Takeover

This year’s 21 nominees represent a massive slice of the tree of life, covering 4 Phyla (Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Platyhelminthes). We’ve got 8 Classes and 19 Orders in the mix, and every single nominee is the sole representative of its taxonomic Family. Talk about an elite lineup!

Ready to meet the cast? 👉 Click here to browse the 2026 Nominees

🗳️ How to Cast Your Vote

You get three votes, so choose your champions wisely! Once you hit “Vote,” we’ll ask for:

• Your Email: This ensures “one human, one vote” (no ballot-stuffing by the beetles!).

• Your Location: We’re curious to see which corners of the globe (or the garden) are voting. Feel free to be honest or select “Prefer not to answer.”

Privacy Note: We’re not here to clutter your inbox. All emails and locations will be deleted as soon as the results are announced on 20 February 2026.

⏳ Important Dates

• Polls Close: Midnight, 16 Feb 2026.

• The Big Reveal: 20 Feb 2026.

🛠️ Pro-Tip for Voters

Our voting platform plays best with Google Chrome. Some of our friends using Safari or Firefox for Android (version 107.2.0) have reported a few hiccups, so we recommend Chrome for the smoothest experience.