Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

The poisonous redback spider may become a more common sight throughout New Zealand because of climate change.

The spider has been in the country since the 1980s and is already well established in Central Otago.

But Cor Vink from AgResearch says there are other regions which have become warmer and are dry enough for the spider to live.

Dr Vink says these areas include Canterbury, Marlborough and Northland but also the regions around Palmerston North and Bulls.

He says the spiders are likely to travel to regions on the back of warm items, such as transported loads of metal.