The world seems dark and grim. These 5 links are about bringing a little light. 💡

  1. Turtle release in Northland stirs emotions - 'You can't ask for better' | RNZ News:

    Five endangered [green] turtles have been returned to the wild at a Northland beach after being rescued near death and nursed back to health. …

    According to DOC, another 15 were currently recovering at Kelly Tarlton's. Most had been rescued from Northland beaches during the past summer.

  2. Horowhenua Star April 4 2025 (PDF):

    It's a good day to be a lizard.

    And an even better day to be part of the Horowhenua community. Native lizards are to get a purpose-built 4-hectare predator proof enclosure at the intersection of Arapaepae Road and Queen Street East. They’re getting the new pad as part of the Ō2NL expressway construction kicking off.

  3. An Art Form That Makes Silent Voices Heard:

    With gestures and mime rolled into one, this little-known art form, called Visual Vernacular (VV), is proudly used by the Deaf community for artistic expression. In VV, visual storytelling replaces formal signs, enabling people from both the Deaf and hearing communities to connect, understand each other and communicate without words.

  4. Do watch the video — it's quite amazing. Daytime kiwi fight in Kerikeri garden surprises locals, reveals rare territorial clash:

    In a remarkable scene captured in Northland, two kiwi birds engaged in a fight during daylight hours, offering a rare glimpse into the territorial behaviour of the elusive, nocturnal birds.

  5. A population of rare native parrots in a Whangārei man's backyard continues to grow. Ethan Benney, who spent years predator-proofing some historic bush on his family's rural property at Glenbervie, first noticed an adult pair of kākāriki (green parrots) in the area early last year. About six months later, he discovered the duo were raising a clutch of chicks in a hollow tree.

    Via: Northern Advocate, 07 April 2025 (PDF), Page 3.