Critter of the Week is a weekly RNZ National programme about endangered and neglected native plants and animals of New Zealand.
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Beginning in 2015, Critter of the Week is an approximately 15-minute discussion between Nicola Toki (originally the Department of Conservation Threatened Species Ambassador) and RNZ Afternoons host Jesse Mulligan on an "uncharismatic and lovable" New Zealand species.[1] Despite its name, the show features animals, plants, and fungi, with each species receiving an "attractiveness" score from 1 to 10.[2] The show currently airs on Friday afternoons, and has a regular listenership of 100,000.[2]
Origin and development
The topic of spotlighting uncharismatic species was raised in an interview by Mulligan in April 2015,[3] and the programme originated later in 2015 in a discussion between Mulligan and Toki about threatened bird conservation, in which Toki lamented a lack of attention and corporate funding for species such as the Smeagol gravel slug.[4] The first episode of Critter of the Week aired on 2 October 2015 and featured the New Zealand bat fly.[5] Each week's broadcast is supported by a team of volunteers, referred to by Mulligan as the "wikinerds", who improve the Wikipedia article for the species in question.[2][6]
In 2018 and in subsequent years artist Giselle Clarkson designed t-shirts and tea towels featuring a selection of species that had appeared on the programme.[7] In September–October 2018, a "Critter of the Week: Bake-off" competition invited listeners to bake a cake in the shape of their favourite "critter".[8] Listeners have also taken part in a "Knit-a-Critter" competition.
Nicola Toki became chief executive of Forest & Bird in April 2022,[9] but continued with the RNZ weekly programme.
Coverage
The Critter of the Week project was the subject of a lightning talk by Mike Dickison for the 2018 ESEAP Conference in Bali, Indonesia.[10] An updated presentation was given at the Wikimedia Australia Melbourne meetup in November 2018.[11] Critter of the Week was discussed as an example of a museum outreach at the 2018 SPNHC conference in Dunedin.[12] Critter of the Week and the role of Wikipedia editors was featured in Forest & Bird magazine in June 2023.[2]