Amiria, Arohia, Wikitoria or...

The Taiaroa Head royal albatross chick - nicknamed Dora because of her habit of wandering - is about to get a permanent name. Photo: Department of Conservation
The Taiaroa Head royal albatross chick - nicknamed Dora because of her habit of wandering - is about to get a permanent name. Photo: Department of Conservation
Maori entries top the list of potential names for the new star of the royal albatross webcam at Taiaroa Head.

The Department of Conservation yesterday released the five favoured names down from a list of 481 suggested by the public for the chick which sits in front of the webcam at the Royal Albatross Centre.

The names, selected by the Pukekura Co-management Trust, are Amiria, Arohia, Matatoa, Phoebe and Wikitoria.

Amiria is a New Zealand twist on American aviator Amelia Earhart, Arohia means take interest or notice, Matatoa means intrepid and brave, Phoebe was a reference to American birder and explorer Phoebe Snetsinger and Wikitoria is after Wikitoria Korako, the wife of Ngai Tahu chief Horomona Pohio.

The chick has been nicknamed Dora, after children's cartoon Dora the Explorer, because of her habit of wandering.

People can vote on their favourite until 10am on Tuesday.

It is the third year the department has run the competition.

jono.edwards@odt.co.nz

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