This species was first described by Charles E. Clarke in 1926 using a specimen collected by him at Hope Arm, Lake Manapouri and named Tortrix cuneata.

Forewings elongate, costa moderately arched, apex bluntly pointed, termen slightly rounded, oblique; pale grey with a number of small obscure dots with tendency to form rows; a transverse blunt wedge-shaped red bar at 1⁄2 of dorsum, reaching half-way across wing.

[7] The larvae of this species web leaves together on the foliated stems of its host plant.

[6] The adult moth has been collected in beech forest habitat,[3] as well as at strongly leached terraces and plains commonly called "wilderness".

[7] This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.