A Christchurch prostitute who arranged to do an indecent photo shoot with her 15-year-old daughter has been jailed for 20 months and told her behaviour was "almost inexplicable conduct by a mother".

NZ's forest ecosystems are the second most threatened in the world and house only 5 per cent of their original habitat, according to an international report.

A South Island couple unable to escape Cairns before Cyclone Yasi hit overnight felt so safe in their hotel they slept, then watched the huge storm from their balcony.