An 11-year-old ant enthusiast is set to be one of the star attractions at this year's City Nature Challenge in Christchurch, where he will showcase his extensive collection of the tiny insects at a special nocturnal event. The global 'bioblitz' encourages residents to connect with and document their local biodiversity.
Patrick Rayen, a budding entomologist, will bring at least four of his ant farms to the 'Evening Adventures' event on 24 April at the Climate Action Campus in Avonside. The free event allows the public to see his collection, which includes species like parrot ants, big-headed ants, Suchier's meat ant, and the white-footed house ant, as they are being fed.
The annual City Nature Challenge, running from 24 to 27 April, sees cities across the globe compete to make the most observations of plants, animals, and fungi. Using the iNaturalist app, citizen scientists contribute valuable data on urban biodiversity. This marks the eighth year Ōtautahi Christchurch has participated in the initiative.
A passion for formicidae
Patrick’s fascination with ants began around five years ago after he watched videos on YouTube. His interest quickly moved from the screen to his own back garden, where he started identifying local species using the same iNaturalist app that powers the city-wide challenge.
"I first started becoming interested in ants about five years ago after watching some videos on YouTube," Patrick says. "Then I noticed them crawling around in the garden at home and started trying to identify them."
His passion has grown to the point where he now hopes to become an entomologist and carries test tubes with him whenever he is out, in case he discovers a new species to add to his collection. His dedication has already led to a significant discovery. In August of last year, Patrick became the first person to officially identify the Sydney mono ant in the South Island.
The species is now listed in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection, with his name as finding it.
Christchurch on the world stage
The City Nature Challenge is a four-day collaborative event that has seen impressive participation from Christchurch residents in previous years. The goal is to document as much urban wildlife as possible, contributing to a massive global database that helps scientists understand how nature adapts to city environments. Many of New Zealand's most unique native species are nocturnal, making evening explorations particularly important for local conservation efforts.
In 2024, a major collaborative effort resulted in over 20,000 observations, earning Ōtautahi a 26th-place ranking out of 690 competing cities and putting it ahead of major centres like Los Angeles, Melbourne, and Wellington. The momentum continued last year, with residents logging more than 25,000 observations. Across the globe, the 2025 challenge recorded a grand total of 3.3 million observations.
The project relies on iNaturalist, a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. The platform allows users to upload photos of organisms, which can then be identified by a community of experts and enthusiasts. This data is critical for tracking population changes, invasive species, and the effects of urbanisation on local ecosystems. Find out more at the official Conservation Week website.
Evening adventures in the red zone
The free 'Evening Adventures' event, held from 4:30pm to 8:30pm on Friday, 24 April, invites the public to explore the unique environment of the Avonside red zone. Scientists and experts from various organisations will be on hand to guide participants and help identify their findings.
The event is a significant collaboration between the Climate Action Campus, Canterbury University, Lincoln University, Canterbury Museum, the NZ Biorecording Network, Te Tuna Taone project, Envirohub, Green Lab, and Christchurch City Council libraries and parks. Besides Patrick's ant exhibit, activities include light traps to attract nocturnal insects, a tour of the butterfly gardens, a scavenger hunt, and rock painting sessions run by Green Lab.
For those needing to warm up, a coffee van and a sausage sizzle will be available. At 7pm, attendees can join a spotlight walk along the river with an educator to see if any fish or tuna (eels) have been caught, offering a chance to get up close with these cryptic aquatic creatures. This event is part of a broader push for the council and its partners to engage with environmental issues, including larger projects like the potential expansion of the region's port.
Exploring our urban ecosystem
The choice of the Climate Action Campus and the surrounding red zone lands is particularly poignant. This area, once suburban, is now a space where nature is actively reclaiming the land, providing a living laboratory for biodiversity. It serves as a prime example of the often-hidden natural world that thrives within city limits, a key focus for an event promoted by outlets like the DARKLIGHT 'Hidden World' experience.
Christchurch boasts a diverse range of natural areas, from the rugged trails of the Port Hills to the vital wetlands of Travis Wetland Nature Heritage Park. These spaces are home to countless species, many of which go unnoticed by residents in their daily lives. The City Nature Challenge aims to bridge this gap, fostering a deeper appreciation for the local environment.
By encouraging residents to simply stop and look, the event transforms a simple walk in the park into an act of scientific discovery. The data collected provides an invaluable annual snapshot of the city’s ecological health, helping planners and conservationists make more informed decisions to protect these vital urban ecosystems for future generations.
Community Ranger Sarah Mankelow is the point of contact for the event, and anyone seeking more information can reach her at 027 839 9776.
