Blue Meanies & Gold Tops: Safe Psilocybin Mushroom Use Explained by an Ecologist

Shroom Season in Aotearoa: What You Need to Know Before You Go Foraging

The days are shorter, the air is colder, and the rain just keeps on coming. If the damp weather has you eyeing up the forest floor for magic mushrooms, here’s our first (and most important) tip: don’t go it alone. Mushroom identification is tricky—even for experts—and guessing wrong isn’t an adventure, it’s a hospital visit (or worse).

This is not a “fuck around and find out” kind of hobby.

If you’re not absolutely sure about what you’ve picked, don’t eat it. Some toxic mushrooms can cause severe vomiting, convulsions, or organ failure. Others can kill you. Still tempted? Let’s get you equipped with the knowledge (and community) you need to forage more safely.

We sat down with ecologist and harm-reduction advocate Joel Faulkner to talk through shroom hunting in New Zealand and how to stay safe.

Meet Joel – Bug Guy, Plant Nerd, Shroom Educator

“I’m an ecologist who studies insects and plants,” Joel says. “Through that, I’ve learned to identify all sorts of species, including fungi. I also volunteer with Know Your Stuff, where I’ve been helping people check their substances for about two years. For me, it’s about harm reduction—giving people tools to stay safe.”

So… What Shrooms Are People Actually Talking About?

If you’ve heard people mention gold tops or blue meanies, you’re not alone. But here in Aotearoa, those names can get confusing.

Psilocybe subaeruginosa – a.k.a. “gold tops” or “subs.”
Psilocybe cyanescens – a wavy-capped variety, sometimes lumped in with subs.
Psilocybe weraroa – our native “blue meanies” (also known as Weraroa novae-zealandiae).

There are a few other, less common species too—Psilocybe aucklandiae, tasmaniana, and angulospora. But here’s the takeaway: use proper names whenever you can. Nicknames vary, but scientific names cut through the confusion.

📹 Check out our video guide on spotting toxic lookalikes before you even think about eating a mushroom.

Why Bother Identifying?

Because not all mushrooms are friendly. “The worst-case scenario is death,” Joel says plainly. “But even if it’s not fatal, you could be looking at days of vomiting, diarrhea, and organ damage. It’s not worth the gamble.”

The problem? Because shrooms are illegal (Class A), people often avoid asking questions. “I hear wild stories of people eating random mushrooms they found in the bush. That’s terrifying.”

Knowledge is harm reduction. Identification skills won’t just save you discomfort—they might save your life.

Building Your ID Skills

So how do you actually get better at telling mushrooms apart? Joel suggests starting broad:

Learn mushroom anatomy – cap, stem, gills, spores.
Practice on non-psychoactive species – get used to what grows around you.
Study the environment – is it growing on wood chips, dead trees, or grass? Different mushrooms have different “addresses.”
Look for company – some mushrooms often grow alongside others. Spotting one can lead you to the other.

“Remember,” Joel says, “being confident you’ve named a mushroom isn’t the same as being confident you can eat it. Build up slowly.”

Who Can Help You ID Shrooms?

Good news: you don’t have to figure it out solo.

Local mushroom foragers – go on walks with people who know their stuff.
Psilver Linings – an Aotearoa-specific harm reduction hub (plus a helpful Facebook group).
The Shroomery – an active online forum for global ID help.
iNaturalist app – great for logging finds and learning from experts.

And yes, there are general mushroom foraging groups on Facebook where folks are usually happy to point you in the right direction.

Getting a Good ID: What Others Need from You

If you’re asking for help, make it easy for people to help you:

📸 Take clear photos:

The mushroom in its natural habitat
Stem, gills, and cap
A cross-section (cut it in half)

🍄 Do a spore print:

Place the cap gills-down on white paper, cover with another sheet, weigh it down lightly, and leave for ~6 hours.
Look for chocolate-brown to purplish spores.
Snap a photo to include with your ID request.

Spore prints don’t affect whether you can eat the mushroom—they just add another layer of ID certainty.

Wait, Do Councils Spray for Shrooms?

Short answer: not really. Councils don’t go out of their way to spray for magic mushrooms. They do spray for weeds and pests in bark gardens or rose beds. If you see dyed mulch (red, green, yellow), that means chemicals are active—so best to avoid foraging there.

Final Word

Mushroom foraging in Aotearoa can be exciting, but the risks are real. Never eat anything you’re not 110% sure about. Get familiar with the science, connect with the community, and use the resources out there to stay safe.

As Joel puts it: “Shroom hunting doesn’t have to be reckless. It can be about learning, curiosity, and harm reduction. Just don’t make it a guessing game.”