BSNZ Report August 2026

BSNZ Report August 2026

Since the last gazette there’s only been two shows here in New Zealand.

The first was in Huntly, where 84 benched budgies were on show on a fine but cold day. Best in show went to an AA Grey Pied Hen of Robyn and Tony Grinter, they also picked up best CYCR with an Opaline Grey Green Cock.

Timaru was the last regular club show in New Zealand for 2026. With 78 budgies benched. Eion Fletcher took best in show with a very classy Opaline Grey Green AA Cock and best CYCR was bred by the novice partnership of Woollard and Anderson, with a nice Normal Light Green Cock.

This weekend (July 31 – Aug 2) sees the New Zealand national show being held in Levin, in the lower North Island.

This concludes our shows for the year, as breeders get into the swing of the breeding season.

Phil Hill
BSNZ

BSNZ Patronage Show

By Peter Thurn

In late June this year, I had the wonderful opportunity to judge the New Zealand Patronage Show. This year it was held on the South Island in the delightful city of Oamaru and was hosted by the North Otago Bird Club.

The show traverses 3 days with birds arriving on Friday, judging taking place on Saturday morning and viewing Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Exhibitors came from across the country although there were a few less from the North Island this year due to the wild weather preventing them from crossing to the South Island.

Oamaru’s Drill Hall was the venue for the show and despite its quirkiness, it worked a treat as it had to not only host the budgies but birds of all descriptions. There were many varieties of Canaries, a range of finches and an array of finches. The collection of Cockatiels was fantastic with so many different mutations on display.

The stars of the event were the budgies with 125 entries in the Champion section and 120 in the Novice section. Robyn Grinter judged the Novice section while I judged the Champion section and the final. The BSNZ have adopted our standard which made for a seamless transition to judging their show.

In terms of varieties benched, there were less Cinnamons and more Opalines than we would see in Australia and there were classes for dark factor birds. There were no Crests or Whitecaps as these varieties are not present in New Zealand. Champion bird went to Cole Hill’s classy young Spangle Opaline Cinnamon Grey hen. She was one of the more modern birds on the bench but excelled in style and deportment. Reserve went to Tony and Robyn Grinter’s Opaline Light Green cock, lovely of variety, plenty of shoulder and nice spot impact. In the afternoon after the judging, I had a bit of fun conducting their auction and gave a short presentation on breeding and genetics. Later that evening many of the exhibitors met at a local restaurant for dinner and drinks.

Thanks to the BSNZ President Phil Hill and Secretary Joanna Anderson for their wonderful hospitality and excellent organisation and thanks to all the wonderful, enthusiastic and passionate budgie folk I met over the course of the weekend. It was a great experience!