Privacy & the search map

This site helps Harry find Forest. For questions or to ask for a report to be removed, email hey@itsharry.co.nz and include the report reference if you have it.

What becomes public

Reports first enter a private review queue. If Harry approves one, its exact map position, observation/check time and notes appear publicly. Publication means Harry has reviewed the report for sharing; a possible sighting remains unconfirmed. Keep names, phone numbers, email addresses and access codes out of public notes.

What stays private

Optional contact details are visible only to Harry in the owner screen. They are removed after 30 days when the site next accesses its database. They may remain in restricted backups until those backups expire. No account is required to send a report. You can also report privately by phone, text or email.

Security and cookies

We use a necessary session cookie for report protection and owner sign-in. Abuse limits use a keyed hash of your network address for up to one hour; raw network addresses are not saved in the report database. The hosting provider may keep ordinary security/access logs. We do not add advertising or analytics trackers.

Location and outside map services

Your device location is requested only when you press the location button. It centres the map and is not saved as a report. If you submit a pin, the location you choose is saved. Map tiles are served by LINZ (aerial imagery) or OpenStreetMap (streets); those providers receive the usual network information, including your IP address and the tile area requested.

Map credits and interpretation

Aerial imagery: LINZ, CC BY 4.0 and imagery contributors. Streets and road-junction coordinates: OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Aerial imagery may be older and is not a live view.

A checked location records what someone checked at a particular time. It does not establish that Forest cannot be there now.

Retention and removal

Public reports are kept for the search and can be hidden by Harry. Hidden and pending reports remain in private storage until the search records are removed. Contact Harry if you need a correction or deletion. After the search, the owner should close reporting and delete personal report records and backups when no longer needed.