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The giveaway is now closed. The lucky winner is Margaret Brown from Wainuiomata. Thanks for your comments everyone.

Skraaaaarrrk! Sirocco: The Rock-Star Kakapo book will be launched on Friday and, thanks to Random House NZ, I’ve got a copy to give away.

“Aimed at children, but equally appealing to adults, Sirocco: The Rock-Star Kakapo by Sarah Ell, tells the story of the remarkable parrot who has become a worldwide sensation.” 

Did you read that? I’m a remarkable parrot! I’m a worldwide sensation! Boom! Truthfully, we already knew that though, didn’t we? 

“Following his journey from sick chick to conservation superstar, the book also features more specific information about kakapo and the recovery programme.” 

I’ve always said, “No kakapo is an island”. It’s nice to know that my kakapo mates, and the recovery programme, get a shout out in my story. 

“With royalties from the book going to Kakapo Recovery, readers can enjoy Sirocco’s story whilst also knowing they are playing their part to aid his species’ recovery.”

So, even if you don’t win a copy, you should probably buy one. Kakapo Recovery, and your coffee table, will thank you for it. 

To be in to win a copy of Sirocco: The Rock-Star Kakapo, leave a comment on this post before 12 noon, Thursday 6 September 2012, telling me why you want the book. A winner will be selected at random and contacted by email. 

The giveaway is open to everyone, except employees of the Department of Conservation, Random House New Zealand, and their immediate families. 

Good luck! 

Sirocco: The Rock-Star Kakapo is valued at $24.99 and will be available from all good bookstores nationwide.

Join Sirocco as he lends a beak with frog monitoring on Maud Island.

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Voting has closed. Read about our winner.

The judges have chosen the top five entries. Now it’s up to you to pick the winner!

The judges – Sirocco the rock star kakapo and Simon (the mad morepork) Owl – have chosen the top five entries

The grand finale

This is it. The grand finale of “Remix my mates during NZ Music Month and make me a bona fide rock star!”

At the end of this week long voting extravaganza our winner will be crowned.

The judges say ‘In the woods’ by Matt Oliver has a slight edge, but we all know these things rarely go the way the judges expect.

It’s going to be a spectacle of epic proportions – and the decision is in your hands.

Bird call

First up, let’s welcome to the page, Shayne Burrows of New Plymouth with ‘Bird call’.

Shane mixed the bird calls from the DOC website with his own music to create this mellow groove.

Bird call, Shayne Burrows (MP3, 2,733K)

The judges say:

“Best performance of the night, so far”

“Dawg, we got a hot one!”

In the woods

Now, please give a warm welcome to London based New Zealander Matt Oliver with ‘In the woods’.

Except for the tui all the bird song came from the DOC website. Everything else is composed or sampled by Shane. There is a track of cicadas and wood hammering noises heard and recorded from his mum and dad’s place in Auckland – the definitive sounds of New Zealand perhaps?!

In the woods, Matt Oliver (MP3, 4,034K)

The judges say:

“This guy is in it to win it!”

“I am in awe. Very hot dope cool track.”

King Kakapo & the Waipoua Posse

Next, let me introduce Wellingtonian Joey Hobbs!

Joey (aka Absalom) drew inspiration from the sound of desperation in the kakapo call. He gives us some pretty heavy, low key dubstep using bird song from the DOC website. So, without further ado, let’s get into ‘King Kakapo and the Waipoua Posse’!

King Kakapo & the Waipoua Posse, Joey Hobbs (MP3, 5,654K)

The judges say:

“You slayed it dude”

“Well, hellfire, save matches, love a kakapo and see what hatches!”

Moimoia (dream/memory)

And all the way from sunny Nelson, please put your hands together for Liiiiiiaaaaaam Rryaaaan with ‘Moimoia’, remixing the sweet, sweet sounds of New Zealand’s only surviving native owl, the morepork/ruru.

Moimoia (dream/memory), Liam Ryan (MP3, 6,118K)

The judges say:

“Love when you break into your morepork/ruru what-it-is-ness.”

“From my melodic sensibility, it was really delicious.”

Sirocco’s theme

Finally, to finish off this perfect page of performances, let’s hear it for another Liam. Heeeere’s Liam White, with ‘Sirocco’s theme’. And, with a title like that, there is nothing, nothing, more to say. Take it away Liam!

Sirocco’s Theme, Liam White (MP3, 5,460K)

The judges say:

“It’s a work of art, a thing of beauty… and I will finish that off with a double helping of ooh-yeah.”

“You slammed it.”

The unique melodies of the tui proved to be popular with our remix artists

So, there you have it folks. Your top five!

Both Simon Owl and my good kakapo self were completely blown away by all the entries. People have done amazing things in a very short time. And we weren’t only impressed because so many people featured the morepork and kakapo!

We’ve got something special here folks. Our birds, our music, our identity – be proud.

You’ll be able to check out all 14 entries after the winner is announced on Monday 20 June but, right now, you need to vote for your favourite!

Who do you think is worthy? Let us know in the comments and be sure to cast your official vote over on www.doc.govt.nz/remix

Voting closes Friday 17 June at 12.00 pm New Zealand Standard Time.

Read my ‘Remix my mates during NZ Music Month and make me a bona fide rock star!’ post.