when dealing with something that either could make you really sick or kill, getting advise from random strangers on the internet is dumb....

bagheera:

 

when dealing with something that either could make you really sick or kill, getting advise from random strangers on the internet is dumb....

 

I was more hoping that someone who did know might say "they're not porcini because..."

What tree were they growing under? Where in NZ are you?

I suggest to post your pictures on NatureWatch here: http://naturewatch.org.nz

Under silver birch trees - in Chch. They looked close to me - but not sure about the reticulum on the stems and the stems look a bit blotchy.

I'm now almost certain this is what they are: http://www.trufflesandmushrooms.co.nz/Leccinum%20scabrum%20web.pdf

Edible - but I'll give them a miss.

Yes the stems definitely looked wrong for Boletus edulis, but the host and other characters match Leccinum scabrum as you found. Probably not tasty enough to give it a shot though.