Two men caught stealing 54 ponga logs from the Rotoehu Conservation Area near Rotorua have been sentenced to a total of 460 hours of community work.
Ngongotaha locals Tyson Brake and Bruce Hector McCollum pleaded guilty to taking the logs from public conservation land when they appeared in the Rotorua District Court on Monday.
Two Rotorua men have been sentenced to community work and had their trailer and a chainsaw seized after being caught by Department of Conservation compliance officers stealing 54 ponga logs from the Rotoehu Conservation Area. Supplied Photo.
The duo were caught in the act by Department of Conservation compliance officers who seized the logs, along with a trailer and chainsaw being used as part of the illegal activity.
McCollum also pleaded guilty to a charge of giving false details to the compliance officers. He was sentenced to 260 hours of community work, while Brake was sentenced to 200 hours of community work and confiscation of his chainsaw.
DOC solicitor Mike Bodie says the prosecution is the result of ongoing surveillance of conservation areas and vigilance of the community.
'The sentencing illustrates how DOC is working with the wider community to address this illegal activity and sends a clear message that we will prosecute.”
Ponga stumps cut by the offenders in the Rotoehu Conservation Area on Wairoa Road. Supplied Photos.
Surveillance by Rotorua DOC staff has previously led to the successful prosecution for the theft of commercially sold firewood from conservation land.
'Removal of native vegetation impacts on the conservation values of public conservation land. Vegetation has important ecological value and any attempts to remove it will be taken seriously.”
In the wake of the convictions, DOC is urging the public and landscaping or firewood merchants to make sure any ponga or firewood they buy is from a legitimate source on private land.
It is an offence to remove or knowingly receive any vegetation from public conservation land.
The maximum sentence for the offence is two years' imprisonment and a $100,000 fine, and offenders risk forfeiture of vehicles, trailers and equipment.
DOC urges anyone who sees suspicious activity around local reserves or conservation areas to immediately call the toll free number 0800 DOCHOT (362 468).
7 comments
Slap on the wrist
Posted on 27-09-2016 12:11 | By normal local
Once again a thief gets away with a slap with a wet bus ticket.It certainly doesn't send out a message to others not to do the same thing.
Good
Posted on 27-09-2016 15:05 | By Bay Citizen
Good to see these men convicted of this brazen theft. Unlike "normal local" below, I don't see 260 hours of community work as a "slap on the wrist". That's quite a lot of hours to put in for reparation. Perhaps a fine as well would have been appropriate though. The stupid thing though is that this pair could have easily obtained ponga logs from legitimate sources where pongas spring up like weeds on private property.
Here's a view
Posted on 27-09-2016 19:33 | By tia
You steal ponga's and get total of 460 hours community service. Yet you are a rugby player, smack four people, put one out of rugby for life and then have a go at them again and get discharged without conviction.Is this justice? And even the Rugby union think it stinks by cancelling his contract. Some Judges get their money easy.
How does this
Posted on 28-09-2016 07:52 | By earlybird
punishment compare to the rich listers kid who knocked a police woman unconscious. The justice system is a bit of a joke.
Pathetic sentences
Posted on 28-09-2016 08:14 | By Chris
"The maximum sentence for the offence is two years' imprisonment and a $100,000 fine" - but in a practical sense the maximum penalty is a few hours of community work.
Oh come on.
Posted on 28-09-2016 11:42 | By Kenworthlogger
Guys what do you expect? This is New Zealand. If you are a rugby player or a rich lister you can do what ever you want. And you people are like suprised by all this? Really. No such thing as fairness in New Zealand thats for sure.
Has happened before.
Posted on 29-09-2016 10:13 | By SonnyJim
25 odd years ago raiders took many trailer loads of punga logs from the ecological reserve, down Hinau Road. The damage caused was concealed by a hedge of 'untouched regenerating 'useable' punga and fern along the roadside.
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