The species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1916 from specimens obtained at Ben Lomond and Macetown. The genus level classification of New Zealand endemic moths within the genus Aletia is regarded as unsatisfactory and is under revision. It is likely that this species will be removed from the genus Aletia and be placed within one of the following genera: Physetica, Graphania, Tmetolophota or Ichneutica. As such the species is currently also known as Aletia (s.l.) cuneata.