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Is the Minister aware of a survey that has found that New Zealand's butterflies are in decline, with a drop of around 50 percent across most species, likely due to invasive wasps? and 1 other question

Answered 14034, 14035 (2026)
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Asked by

Celia Wade-Brown

List MP · Green Party

Questions

  • 14034

    Is the Minister aware of a survey that has found that New Zealand's butterflies are in decline, with a drop of around 50 percent across most species, likely due to invasive wasps?

  • 14035

    Is the Minister aware that a survey has found that New Zealand's butterflies are in decline, with a drop of around 50 percent across most species?

Answered by

Hon Tama Potaka

Member for Hamilton West · National Party · Minister of Conservation

Answer

The member may be referring to a 6 April media article by volunteer organisation, Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust. I am aware of the Trust’s survey and commend their commitment to moth and butterfly conservation. The Department of Conservation advises me that it is extremely challenging to estimate decline across all New Zealand butterflies. But for some species of butterflies, I am aware that there has been an ongoing decline in the last several decades.