With the onset of autumn rains, some gardeners planning outside work may be lamenting the conditions, but fungus enthusiasts are welcoming the mushroom weather.
Since 1986, amateur and professional fungus enthusiasts- the latter called mycologists- have taken part in the annual week-long foray event, comprising intensive fungus-spotting trips and a scientific meeting, held in a different part of the country each year.
Each year, they have opted to meet in autumn because when the rains come, the fungus also shyly arrives-much of it radiantly beautiful - but often also painfully short-lived, some vanishing after only two hours.
The latest national event is based at the Waiora Scout Camp, near Mosgiel, and is being held in the greater Dunedin area for the first time. Some participants are from Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Organisers say Dunedin is New Zealand's "wildlife capital" and collecting sites for fungi include beech forest, mixed broadleaf and podocarp areas, tea tree stands and montaine grassland.
Dr David Orlovich, a senior lecturer in botany at the University of Otago, says his fellow enthusiasts are feeling slightly "apprehensive" about their prospects after they started fungus hunting at the Orokonui ecosanctuary, Evansdale Glen and the Catlins yesterday: "It's pretty exciting. Everyone wants to find some good stuff."
The fungus lovers have had the recent rain they need but are now hoping for some slightly warmer weather to spark most favourable growth.
Some remarkable fungi, including undescribed species, awaited discovery near the city, Dr Orlovich said.
He noted that a native Lepista fibrosissima mushroom, not previously known in New Zealand, was discovered in the Waipori Gorge by participants in a Botanical Society of Otago trip about 2004.
