Originally from America, the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) has spread both naturally and by human intervention throughout the Pacific, Australia, parts of Southeast Asia and to the islands in the Atlantic. It is not known how monarchs arrived in New Zealand, but they have been here since at least the mid 1870s. They have been in Christchurch for many years and it seems that their numbers are increasing.
Monarchs are migratory and have been known to travel thousands of kilometres, although in New Zealand studies have seen them travel considerably shorter distances.
In Christchurch during the autumn and winter months, you can often see monarchs in big clusters within some of our parks. Some trees are visited for many years.
Visit the Monarch Watch website for more information.
Monarch butterflies pamphlet [PDF 1.5MB]
