Maoricolpus roseus is included on early national lists of significant marine pests (NIMPCG, 2009a, 2009b) and various state and territory lists.

Maoricolpus roseus is a large gastropod with a broad conical spire. It can grow to 85 mm in length and 25 mm in width. Its colour varies from yellowish, to reddish or purple-brown, with a faintly marbled pattern or darker brown streaks on the shell surface. It also may be seen with finely dotted spiral bands. This species of screw shell is native to New Zealand and inhabits a wide range of substrates, from soft sediments to rock pools, and from the low intertidal zones to approximately 200m (Scott, 1997). It was likely introduced into Australia in the 1920s accidently with the shipments of live oysters (Dartnall, 1967). Presently, M. roseus is established throughout eastern and northern Tasmania, the Bass Strait islands, eastern and central Victoria and southern New South Wales. There is a single record from off Cape Moreton, southern Queensland (Anon., n.d.), but this relates to a mislocalised specimen (Willan, pers comm. 2019). There is also one incorrect record from South Australia.