Caterpillar of the Kawakawa Looper moth (Cleora scriptaria)

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
Superorder: Endopterygota
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Cleora
Species: C.scriptaria
Scientific name: Cleora scriptaria 
Common names: Caterpillar of the Kawakawa Looper, Grey Evening Moth

Cleora scriptaria is a native moth found throughout New Zealand with a wingspan of 40-50 mm.
Its caterpillars feed nocturnally on leaves of Kawakawa (Macropiper excelsum) and other native shrubs including ake-ake (Dodonaea viscosa), Horopito (Pseudowintera), Makomako (Aristotelia serrata), Ramarama and the introduced feijoa tree (Acca sellowiana).   Most kawakawa plants have holes in the leaves made by these caterpillars.
A caterpillar of Cleora scriptaria moth on a Kawakawa leaf.  Some caterpillars are green like in the photo but others develop darker markings and body lines as they grow.

Caterpillar of Kawakawa Looper Moth Cleora scriptaria-003.JPG

Caterpillar of the Kawakawa Looper moth Cleora scriptaria .JPG

Caterpillar of the Kawakawa Looper moth Cleora scriptaria -001.JPG

Caterpillar of the Kawakawa Looper moth Cleora scriptaria -002.JPG

A Cleora scriptaria caterpillar has changed colour and preparing to spin its cocoon.
Caterpillar of the Kawakawa Looper moth Cleora scriptaria -003.JPG

A Cleora scriptaria caterpillar spinning it's cocoon.
Caterpillar of the Kawakawa Looper moth Cleora scriptaria -004.JPG

The cocoon.
Cocoon of Cleora scriptaria.JPG

The holes in Kawakawa leaves left by this caterpillar.  This damage does not seem to affect the plant.
Kawakawa Looper Catapillar Damage.jpg

The Kawakawa Looper also called Grey Evening Moth
Kawakawa Looper Cleora scriptaria-005.JPG 

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/