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The Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust is looking for a perfect spot in Auckland to build a butterfly sanctuary, and recently asked Auckland Council for help.
At council’s Planning, Environment and Parks Committee on June 13, founding trustee Jacqui Knight said a sanctuary could look after native species, be a tourist destination and an educational facility.
“There are endangered species of butterfly that we could raise,” Knight said.
She said although there was no formal evidence of a decline in native butterfly numbers, there are fewer sightings reported.
“I have not had a monarch butterfly come into my garden this year – I am getting people contacting me all the time saying this is happening,” she said.
Councillors proposed a number of options, such as partnering with Auckland Zoo, the Botanical Gardens or Butterfly Creek.
Knight said the Trust had a good relationship with Butterfly Creek, but that organisation focuses on tropical butterflies.
The Moth and Butterflies of NZ Trust was encouraged to speak to local boards about opportunities and, once a site is proposed, to seek funding.
In 2020, Fusion 8 proposed building a tropical bird and butterfly house on land near Snowplanet in Silverdale, as a tourist attraction, but that has not yet eventuated.
