Auckland FC have unveiled their new club mascot, with 11-year-old Agnes Jun named the winner of a fan design competition.
The Black Knights’ new mascot will be Tāma the Kingfisher.
Tāma, short for Tamaki Makaurau – the Maori name for Auckland – beat out more than 250 entries to win the competition.
“I chose a kōtare, or kingfisher, because the kingfisher is fast, focused, and native to New Zealand,” Agenes said.
“I think it is perfect for a sharp, bold football team like Auckland FC.”
Auckland FC’s hunt for a mascot started on June 11 and saw 254 entries, including approximately 110 which were hand drawn by fans under the age of 18.
From there, a final five was named for the public to vote on.
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More than 1,200 people voted, with Koko the Kōkako, Knight, and Tama the Kingfisher making out an almost inseparable top three.
A panel of fans, experts and Auckland FC staff then discussed the merits of each. Several rounds of voting followed, and 90 minutes later, Tāma the Kingfisher was the winner.
“A mascot needs to be bright and colourful to make it noticeable, but also unique and practical if it is going to be seen going down slides and mixing with fans game after game,” said Denise Hailes, a costume and mascot maker who has designed hundreds of sports mascots.
“We received so many bird entries, around 150. We’re clearly a nation of bird lovers,but then birds make great mascots, they can be fun, cheeky and like Agnes’ design, very colourful.
“We received so many great entries. It was so hard to pick one, so well done and thank you to everyone who entered.”
Denise and Agnes will now work together to turn the design into a reality in time for Auckland FC’s first home game of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025-25 season in October.
“Congratulations to Agnes. It is a great design and I loved her thinking. Describing Auckland FC as sharp and bold is certainly enough to win me over,” saidAuckland FC CEO Nick Becker.
“When we started this process, I really had no idea how hard it would be to pick a winner. There were just so many great entries.
“I’m staggered by the sheer quality and number of entries. A huge thanks to the fans and community for getting involved and being part of our hunt to find a mascot. I look forward to the unveiling in front of our fans.”
