Priorities for ecological management at geothermal sites in the Waikato region - 2023 update

Report: TR 2023/23

Authors: Angela McQuillan, Chris Bycroft (Wildlands Consultants Ltd)

The management priorities for all known sites containing geothermal vegetation and/or habitat in the Waikato region have previously been assessed in 2006, 2011, and 2014.

This report updates the priorities for management of geothermal sites in the Waikato Rrgion, based on the most up to date ecological information for each of the 46 sites. These sites occur within 14 geothermal systems (and 17 geothermal fields - three of the geothermal Systems each contain two geothermal fields).

The objective of this project is to update the 2014 report by identifying priorities for pest plant control, pest animal control, and fencing for all of the mapped geothermal sites in the Waikato region. Each site is to be ranked in order of priority for pest plant control, pest animal control, and fencing requirements (if deemed relevant).