Sustainable Environments

Waikite Valley Wetlands Reserve

The Waikite Valley Hot Pools team spent a day volunteering with the Department of Conservation at the Waikite Valley Wetland Reserve. The team helped to monitor/count rare and endangered ferns (Cristella, Cyclosorus and Nephrolepis) in the reserve.

These ferns are found only in geothermal areas in and around the Rotorua/Taupo volcanic zone and we are lucky here in Waikite since the formation of the Wetland area in 2006 to have quite a thriving population of not only rare ferns but a number of water fowl including the Kotata (Fernbird) Riro Riro (Grey Warbler) and Pied Stilt.