Auckland Butterfly Garden

01/06/2026

Another monarch released and tagged. I have plenty of caterpillars now - it will likely take another 6 weeks before they eclose as butterflies - so I should use all my tags by the end of winter, but will have to be patient.

23/05/2026

The butterflies are slowing. The flowers are slowing. I am slowing. Late autumn in the butterfly garden.

What is happening in the butterfly garden in late autumn? It's all at snail's pace.

05/05/2026

Research from Christchurch helps us move from anecdotal reports to data-driven evidence that lepidoptera species are mostly in decline.

04/05/2026

A trip to Wellington Botanic Garden and its wonderful admiral butterflies highlights the biodiversity degradation in Auckland

A visit to Wellington Botanic Garden yields butterflies galore. All the wildlife comes as a shock.

02/05/2026

Autumn sun levels are changing what the butterflies are feeding on. If it is in the shade they are not interested. I take inspiration from other April gardens.

April 2026The shading of some of my butterfly garden with the lower sun has really affected what plants the butterflies are choosing to feed from this month. I am now impatient for the leaves to fall off the liquidambers and give the main bed more direct light again. I went away for Easter and was j...

20/04/2026

Aucklanders — take part in the City Nature Challenge 2026 this ANZAC weekend! 🌿🦋

Spot, snap and submit wildlife observations — it’s a fun way to learn about our local nature and help science.

https://www.aucklandbutterflygarden.com/post/city-nature-challenge-2026

07/04/2026

Data from over a decade show the decline in butterflies. Nelson has had Asian paper wasps from the 1990s. The European paper wasp turned up around 2010, according to the local council.

New Zealand’s butterflies are in decline, with new long-term data confirming what many people have already noticed – far fewer monarchs in our communities.

“We are concerned that other species are in decline as well,” said Jacqui Knight, Founding Trustee of the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust. “But the monarchs are much larger and used to grace our gardens every summer – so their absence is much more noticeable.”

Now the Trust has evidence to back that the numbers of butterflies are declining.

Since 2009, Trust member Chrissie Ward in Nelson has walked the same route weekly from October to March, recording butterfly numbers. Her data shows a clear long-term decline in the once strong transect, with only partial recovery in some years.
“It has changed considerably over the years,” Chrissie said. “Of course, some fluctuation is expected, but all species have shown a decline in numbers.”

The report was produced by data analyst Kiran Thodiyil who said the data shows a clear long-term pattern of change in butterfly abundance.

“This season saw a drop of around 50 percent across most species – the worst on record,” said Jacqui. “The most likely drivers are environmental pressures, particularly introduced pest wasps (Vespula and Polistes spp.). A quick poll of Nelson residents supports this.”

The Trust is now calling for volunteers nationwide to take part in butterfly transect monitoring and is urging government to take the impact of introduced wasps more seriously as well as instigate other factors affecting our native fauna.

“Our Wasp Survey last year showed these pests are killing native insects like wētā and even young birds, while also limiting people’s ability to work and enjoy the outdoors,” Jacqui said. “There are other factors affecting our native fauna as well that need to be addressed. Our work is just beginning.”

07/04/2026

I tagged my first monarch and spotted more tagged visitors in the garden — what a thrill! 🦋🌿 Read about the tagging update and follow the journey.

I tag my first monarch and see more tagged monarchs in the garden. Exciting!

05/04/2026

Early autumn flowers for New Zealand butterflies

What flowers have been feeding butterflies in March?

01/04/2026

My honest first impressions of the Hawkeye wasp trap and lure

I try out the Hawkeye wasp trap and lure starter pack. These traps look very familiar...