Native butterfly campaign takes flight

The Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust is campaigning to raise $15,000 to fund DNA research into identifying copper butterflies and understanding their habitats.

Ninety-three percent of New Zealand’s native butterflies and moths are unique to Aotearoa.

“If we lose them, they can’t be replaced,” MBNZT’s biodiversity advisor Brian Patrick says.

“The family of copper butterflies is a great example. They are native to NZ whereas the monarch and cabbage white butterflies are not.

“Some native butterflies are already teetering on the edge of extinction. There’s a tiny purple copper butterfly, which now exists only in one coastal carpark in the South Island. It needs our protection – but firstly it needs to be identified!”

Butterflies are important as pollinators and as food for birds.

“Sadly, successive governments have invested too little in research and taxonomy, the naming of species,” says Angela Moon-Jones, who is spearheading a campaign to save New Zealand’s butterflies.

“We are far behind most other countries of the world.

“We have a chance to change this, but we need the support of caring New Zealanders now to save our precious butterflies. We are so grateful that we have some wonderful sponsors already helping our cause.”

To support the campaign, go to https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/save-our-butterflies