The region's monarch butterflies are proving more elusive than ever this year.
When summer ends the butterflies are known to gather in clusters in the trees outside Pania Lodge Motel in Kennedy Rd in Onekawa, as well as in Anderson, Cornwall and Frimley Parks in Hastings.
Jacqui Knight, secretary of Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust, is visiting the region, on the lookout for clusters of monarchs in their traditional places.
When monarchs sense winter coming, they gather in large clusters at over-wintering sites, usually in conifer trees.
"There is something really magical about seeing huge numbers of monarchs all together," Ms Knight said.