The topic of spotlighting uncharismatic species was raised in an interview by Mulligan in April 2015, 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. The first episode of
Critter of the Week aired on 2 October 2015 and featured the
New Zealand bat fly. 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. In 2018 and in subsequent years artist
Giselle Clarkson designed t-shirts, hoodies and totes featuring a selection of species that had appeared on the programme. 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". Listeners have also taken part in a "Knit-a-Critter" competition. Nicola Toki became chief executive of
Forest & Bird in April 2022, but continued with the RNZ weekly programme. == Coverage ==