Plague Skink (Rainbow Skink) NZ: How to Identify It & What the Law Says

Plague Skink (Rainbow Skink) in NZ: Identification and Biosecurity Rules

The plague skink (*Lampropholis delicata*), also known as the rainbow skink, is an invasive lizard native to Australia. It was first recorded in Auckland in the 1960s, probably arriving by accident in cargo, and has since spread well beyond Auckland (see the distribution below).

The Department of Conservation (DOC) worked with MPI Biosecurity New Zealand to declare the plague skink an Unwanted Organism. That makes it illegal to knowingly move, release, spread, sell or offer for sale, exhibit or breed plague skinks without MPI Biosecurity's explicit permission. If you see one outside its known range, DOC asks you to report it straight away and take a photo if you can. For which reptiles can be kept as pets in New Zealand, see our New Zealand reptile legal guide and our guide to banned and restricted exotic pets.

Known Distribution Across New Zealand

DOC's current picture of where plague skinks are found:

• North Island: DOC says plague skinks are found from Northland to Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, with outlying populations at Whanganui, Palmerston North and Foxton Beach.
• South Island (Blenheim): In the South Island, plague skinks have established a population in Blenheim.
• Canterbury Sighting: In June 2026, Environment Canterbury reported that a plague skink had recently been found in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

DOC says plague skinks frequently get into freight and shipping containers, and potting mix in potted plants is a favoured breeding spot — which is how they move to new areas.

How to Identify a Plague Skink

Plague skinks are easily confused with native lizards. According to the NZ Herpetological Society, they are frequently mistaken for the native copper skink (*Oligosoma aeneum*).

DOC and the NZ Herpetological Society highlight these characteristics:

• The Head Scale (Key Feature): A plague skink has one large scale on the top of its head, whereas native New Zealand skinks have two smaller scales. The NZ Herpetological Society notes this can be quite hard to see unless the animal is in hand.
• General Appearance: DOC describes plague skinks as small lizards, measuring about 3–4 cm from the nose to the hind legs (excluding the long, thin tail). Their coloration is brown or grey-brown with a dark brown stripe running down each side of the body, and they exhibit an iridescent rainbow or metallic sheen when seen in bright light.
• White Eggs: Plague skinks lay eggs, whereas nearly all native New Zealand lizards give birth to live young. DOC says you may find communal nests of 20 to 100 small white eggs (8–10 mm long, oval, with a tough leathery shell), often in the soil of potted plants.

Ecological Impact and Biology

DOC says plague skinks reproduce rapidly:

• Rapid Breeding Cycle: Female plague skinks lay up to eight eggs three times per year—reproducing more than five times as fast as most native lizards.
• Fast Maturation: They reach sexual maturity in less than half the time of native lizards, and reach high densities quickly.
• Resource Competition: DOC says that because of this they potentially compete with native lizard species for food, habitat, and space.
• Scientific Evidence: Addressing ecological competition, the NZ Herpetological Society notes there is no solid proof yet that they directly displace native species, though studies indicate the core components for exploitative competition are present.
• Where They Thrive: DOC says they thrive in urban areas, gardens, commercial areas, industrial sites, garden centres and waste ground.

Biosecurity Act Rules and Legal Status

The legal framework governing plague skinks in New Zealand combines national biosecurity rules with regional pest management:

1. Unwanted Organism Under the Biosecurity Act 1993

DOC worked closely with MPI Biosecurity New Zealand to declare the plague skink an Unwanted Organism under the Biosecurity Act 1993:

• Prohibited Conduct (Sections 52 and 53): Under section 52, no person may knowingly communicate (move), cause to be communicated, release, or otherwise spread any pest or unwanted organism. Under section 53, a person in charge of an unwanted organism must not allow it to be in a place where organisms are offered for sale or exhibited, sell or offer it for sale, or breed, multiply, or propagate it.
• Maximum Penalties Under Section 157: Failing to comply with sections 52 or 53 is an offence under section 157 of the Biosecurity Act 1993. For an individual, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for a term up to 5 years, a fine up to $100,000, or both. For a corporation, the maximum penalty is a fine up to $200,000.

2. Wildlife Act Status: Schedule 5 Unprotected

Plague skinks are listed under Schedule 5 ("Wildlife not protected") of the Wildlife Act 1953 under the listing "Rainbow skink (*Lampropholis delicata*)". This means that, unlike native geckos and skinks, plague skinks are not protected by the Wildlife Act — but the Biosecurity Act rules above still apply.

3. Regional Pest Rules in Auckland

Under the Auckland Council regional pest management plan, specific local rules apply: within the Auckland region, you must not breed, distribute, release, or sell any plague skink.

What Should You Do If You Find a Plague Skink?

Plague skinks are often mistaken for the protected native copper skink, so:

• Check Goods Before Moving: If you live where plague skinks occur and are moving goods or freight to a plague-skink-free area, check your belongings first, and check potted plants for the small white eggs.
• Photograph, Don't Handle: The head scale is hard to see unless the lizard is in hand, and native skinks must not be caught or deliberately disturbed without a DOC permit — so photograph and report rather than catch.
• Report Sightings Immediately: If you see a plague skink outside its known range, call the Department of Conservation immediately on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468). If possible, take a photograph to assist experts with official identification.
• Report Unauthorised Trading or Breeding: If you suspect anyone of breeding or trading plague skinks as pets, report the matter to MPI Biosecurity on 0800 809 966.
• Protecting Native Wildlife: New Zealand's native lizards and frogs are fully protected under conservation law. To learn about native geckos and skinks, see our guide to New Zealand native lizards, or explore our overview of New Zealand frogs.

Sources

• Department of Conservation: Plague skinks — https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests-and-threats/plague-skinks/
• Environment Canterbury: Plague skink sighting in Canterbury: how to identify and report it (June 2026) — https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2026/plague-skink-sighting-in-canterbury-how-to-identify-and-report-it
• New Zealand Herpetological Society: Plague Skink (*Lampropholis delicata*) — https://reptiles.org.nz/node/31
• New Zealand Legislation: Biosecurity Act 1993 (Whole Act) — https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0095/latest/whole.html
• New Zealand Legislation: Wildlife Act 1953 (Whole Act) — https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1953/0031/latest/DLM276814.html
• Department of Conservation: Attract lizards to your garden — https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/conservation-activities/attract-lizards-to-your-garden/
• Auckland Council / Tiaki Tāmaki Makaurau: Pest Search - Plague skink (*Lampropholis delicata*) — https://tiakitamakimakaurau.nz/protect-and-restore-our-environment/pests-in-auckland/pest-search/lamdel/