Save New Zealand’s butterflies!

$6,852 of $130,000 goal
Given by 119 generous donors in around 7 months

Save our butterflies from extinction….. we need to accurately identify them to conserve them before they disappear!

Blockhouse Bay, Auckland

Save our butterflies by identifying them before they become extinct!

Can you imagine not having a name? Believe it or not, the majority of NZ butterflies have not yet been described! In fact, less than 50% of our insects have a scientific description.

As Dutch-NZ naturalist Ruud Kleinpaste explains, 'if we can’t identify them how can we save them from extinction?'

To fix this identification crisis, The Butterfly Discovery Project will launch a full study to analyse the DNA of NZ's largest group of butterflies, known as coppers, part of the Lycaena family.

Currently they are grouped into only four scientifically-named species. But there may actually be up to more than 20 individual species within these groups! This creates major confusion for scientists and enthusiasts alike!

We aim to raise $130,000 for a PhD student to begin the important work of DNA sequencing, forming a genealogical tree of the NZ coppers to resolve the ongoing confusion, under the supervision and guidance of The University of Auckland Professor Thomas Buckley and Dr Robert Hoare of Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research.

All donations during this fundraising campaign will be held in a trust account and will help to boost further funding grants. It is expected to take up to three years to complete this important project.

If you love NZ and our endemic species, even a few dollars will help us reach our goal.

Please spread the word to other butterfly and nature enthusiasts. Our butterflies are counting on you!

About us

The Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust is a registered charity committed to protecting butterflies, moths and their habitats across New Zealand.

Use of funds

The funds will be held in trust until we can fund a PhD student to carry out this research aided by a team of scientists and volunteers.

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Latest update

Are you wondering...  5 April 2023

what we've been doing? We are building up for the NEXT stage of the campaign, which will go live in three weeks. It's very exciting.

We will keep you posted as soon as we can. Did you see this video of coppers in Wellington in a predator-free area (Miramar Peninsula)?

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Latest donations

Rowena
Rowena on 23 Dec 2022
Private
Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust

Thank you Rowena, your donation is very much appreciated. Happy New Year!

Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust
Guest Donor
Guest Donor on 06 Dec 2022
Private
Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust

Thank you SO much, very much appreciated.

Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust
Pip
Pip on 02 Dec 2022
$25
Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust

Wonderful, Pip! Thank you so much. :)

Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust
Andrew
Andrew on 24 Nov 2022
$25
Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust

Thanks Andrew. That's awesome... we're getting closer and closer every day.

Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust
Leslie
Leslie on 12 Nov 2022
$25
Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust

Thank you so much, Leslie! How wonderful. :)

Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust

Who's involved?

Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust's avatar
Created by, and paying to a verified bank account of, Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust (Charity)
Registered Charity
A Registered Charity has legal recognition under the Charities Act 2005.
Tax credit
Donations of over $5 are eligible for a New Zealand charitable giving tax credit.
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This campaign started on 23 May 2022 and ended on 3 Jan 2023.