Join the movement to restore this beautiful butterfly to Auckland. There are number of ways you can make a difference for this endemic species - read on to learn how.
What’s red and rarer than a ruru?
Meet the red admiral butterfly (Vanessa gonerilla gonerilla), an endemic species unique to New Zealand and as important as our kiwi and kauri. Known in Te Reo Māori as kahukura, meaning red cloak, this butterfly is a stunning emblem of our native biodiversity, but it has become a rare sight in recent decades.
Photo by Peter de Lange
Where is the Red Admiral Found?
Once a common feature of the local fauna, the red admiral has all but vanished from Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau. Its decline coincided with the aerial insecticide spraying campaign (1996–2004) to eradicate the painted apple moth. Combined with urban development and the loss of wild spaces, these factors have made the butterfly a rare visitor to Auckland.
In other parts of New Zealand, the red admiral is more common. However, populations from southern regions struggle to adapt to Auckland's warmer climate, highlighting the need for localised conservation efforts.
Conservation Efforts
The red admiral isn’t just beautiful - it plays an essential role in pollination and supports native bird species as part of their diet. To restore its presence in Auckland, we have been campaigning to increase awareness of this butterfly in an effort to rebuild local populations.
Throughout 2024, we have encouraged Aucklanders to plant nectar-rich flowers and Urtica ferox, the tree nettle or ongaonga, the host plant on which the species lays its eggs. While few people are brave enough to plant Urtica ferox, they still support the campaign by planting other nettles or providing more nectar flowers in their gardens.
Local volunteers have been contributing to the conservation effort in a variety of ways. Some volunteers have been breeding the species in captivity and distributing the caterpillars. Others have been provided with caterpillars to be raised on nettles in home gardens, with adult butterflies released back into the wild. The first release took place on July 1st at the Blockhouse Bay Recreational Reserve. The campaign has been helped by a grant from Foundation North. Additional funds meant that we could collect caterpillars/eggs from nearby regions like Northland and the Waikato and form a foundation population better suited to Auckland's environment, increasing their chances of survival.
Here is one way in which you can raise admirals (in this case yellows - but the method is more or less the same), thanks to Terry Smithers.
How can you help?
- Plant Nectar Flowers: These provide essential nourishment for adult butterflies. You can find a list of suitable nectar plants here.
- Grow Nettle Species: Plant tree nettle / Urtica ferox or other nettles in safe areas to serve as host plants for caterpillars. Seeds of U. australis and U. ferox are available here.
- Control Predators: Predatory and parasitic wasps, like paper wasps and Vespula species, are significant threats to native butterflies. Controlling these pests can make a huge difference.
- Get Involved: To stay updated or join the initiative, email .
- Donate: Donations are vital to the success of this project. If you’d like to contribute, you can donate here.
Together, we can help restore the red admiral to its rightful place in Auckland - creating a thriving home for this rare and beautiful butterfly once more.