The Maoricolpus roseus manukauensis subspecies is only found in parts of New Zealand such as Manukau, Raglan and Kawhia Harbours.

Maoricolpus roseus are found frequently in the crevices of rocks walls and sheltered pockets on more exposed reefs.

[4] Indirect embryonic development involves a veliger larvae spending a longer time in the water which is suggested by the multispiral protoconch.

[4] In New Zealand, egg capsules have been found absent in March meaning that larvae hatch around the late summer to autumn period.

Maoricolpus roseus are suspension feeders that forage for food by filtering small particles from the water column.

[4] Analysis from isotopes done off species off the coast off southeast Australia, compared with organic matter and sediment reveals that the food source for M. roseus originates from lower trophic levels.

[4] Maoricolpus roseus does not have many known predators;[2] however, a study done between 1993 and 1996, sampled 5684 specimens of 100 different species of fish guts for analysis.

[8] Tiostrea chilensis and/or Crassostrea glomerata were shipped and imported to Tasmania to improve the local oyster industry.

[4] In a 2008 study conducted at the D’Entrecasteux Channel in Tasmania, researchers investigated larvae and sex ratios of M. roseus [8].