A clean, bright red waxgill that reliably fades to orange as it matures, with lamellae following the same red to orange trajectory to a stable, colour-transitioning species distinct from all other NZ red Hygrocybe.

Pileus: 15-30 mm wide, bright red when young. Fades to orange or orange-red with age. Surface smooth, moist; margin even to slightly scalloped. Shape convex to expanded; older specimens may flatten slightly.
Lamellae: Red when young, becoming orange in mature collections. Adnate, moderately spaced. Edges smooth.
Stipe: 25-60 x 3-6 mm, slender, cylindrical. Red to orange colour transition matching the cap. Surface smooth.
Odour/tast: Not distinctive