The Taranaki Regional Council has launched an interactive map for the public to log sightings of the endangered Australasian bittern, of which there are fewer than 1000 left in Aotearoa. The map, hosted on the council’s website, allows users to mark where they have seen the elusive wetland bird, provide details such as time and location, and upload photos. Senior ecologist Halema Jamieson emphasized the importance of monitoring and protecting the dwindling population of the matuku-hūrepo/Australasian bittern.
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Brothers convicted of cannabis growing at rented Sunnynook property, but landlord not prosecuted
Two brothers, The Hai Phan and Khanh Hoi Phan, were convicted for cultivating cannabis in a rented Auckland property, where police discovered a growing operation with 115 plants and a hydroponic system during a raid on September 9, 2022. Despite the brothers' convictions, their landlord, who owned four other suspected “grow houses,” has not been prosecuted. The operation included measures to bypass the electricity meter, indicating an attempt to conceal excessive power usage. Full Article
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