[Trent]

We’ve had some great butterfly activity in Haumoana this unsettled summer: Highlight: up to 3 common coppers spotted regularly, at least one resident (first time seen any in several years). What is their name in reo? (surely not rauparaha)

(Also frequent kahukowhai resident (alas no kahukura despite recent nettle plantings) and only a few pesky paper wasps (rather than the normal plague), so lots of monarchs, albeit late in the summer.)

[Trent]

Pepe para riki is reo for common copper. Pepe is butterfly.

The Maori dictionary has a great page for all things butterfly:

https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=butterfly

It’s interesting to imagine how the 1st people here perceived the butterflies and moths before so many started to disappear and arrive and before the 1st people’s perspective was influenced by scientific and global understanding.

[Jacqui]

Great to hear, Trent!

[Author]

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