The species is occurs on the South Island and is classified as "not threatened".

[2] This species of wētā is unusual for an insect in that the female looks after her eggs and nymphs, this is known as maternal care.

Hemiandrus maia are endemic to the South Island of New Zealand.

The New Zealand Department of Conservation classified this species as "not threatened" in 2014.

[2] Hemiandrus maia is omnivorous, eating fruit and invertebrates but avoiding seeds of native plants.