The aims of the work were to investigate which butterflies occur in habitat types typical of the region, their relative abundance and which vegetation types are most important for different species. This work examines the factors influencing the remaining butterfly populations in Waipara and is trying to develop grower-friendly ways of enhancing them.

This is a short report on some results of the summer of fieldwork conducted in the 2008/09 season in Waipara as part of Mark Gillespie’s PhD project on the conservation of native butterfly species in the region.