Monarch butterfly caterpillars
This seems very unlikely but if anyone has any spare room on a swan plant or two, there are a dozen or more monarch caterpillars about to starve on the corner of Bella Grove and Rimu St in Naenae. A single, small, swan plant on the public side of someone's fence on that corner has had the butterfly eggs laid on it.
Now the stripey wee things are all over it, it has zero leaves left, and only maybe two of the caterpillars are big enough that they will be able to go and metamorphose into butterflies if they are lucky.
It's a dire situation that probably doesn't have a happy ending. Maybe it is survival of the fittest but it's sad.
I'm not on Neighbourly heaps and won't check my messages or the replies, but I'm just putting this out here in case anyone can rescue the caterpillars by taking them to the only food they will eat: swan plant.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.7% Human-centred experience and communication
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14.8% Critical thinking
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29.8% Resilience and adaptability
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2.7% Other - I will share below!
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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