The geothermal areas which are part of Waikite include national threatened plant species including rare geothermal ferns and orchids. An area of soft fern (Christella sp. ‘thermal’) present around the Otamakokore Stream is considered to be one of the largest populations in New Zealand. The fern is ranked At Risk – Naturally Uncommon. Other thermal plants include prostrate kanuka (At Risk – Naturally Uncommon), Cyclosorus interruptus (At Risk – Declining) and thermal ladder fern (Nephrolepis flexuosa) (At Risk – Declining).
A range of waterfowl species frequently use the main wetland area including threatened species such as North Island fern bird, spotless crake (pūweto) and pied stilt (poaka).
For more information on restoration work in this areas, click here.