The Legend of Otanewainuku
According to local Maori legend Otanewainuku is a chiefly mountain. Both Otanewainuku and Mauao (Mt Maunganui) vied for the affections of the beautiful mountain Puwhenua. When she chose Otanewainuku as her lover the rejected Mauao decided to drown himself in the sea. He sought help from the Patupaiarehe (creatures of the mist) but had only reached the shore when dawn came, trapping him at the waters edge. Forever he must stand, first to see the rising Sun, looking back at Puwhenua and her lover Otanewainuku.

The name Otanewainuku means “the many waters that spring forth from the domain of Tane - overseer of the forest." Many springs form waterways that flow into major river systems such as the Kaituna (ending at Maketu Estuary) and the Waimapu ending in Te Awanui (Tauranga Harbour).

Wildlife
Otanewainuku is fortunate to have retained good sized populations of native birds, numbers of which are further boosted by on going pest control work carried out by the Trust. The forest is home to North Is brown kiwi, North Is robin (toutouwai), tomtit (miromiro), wood pigeon (kereru), tui, white head (popokatea), bellbird (korimako), silvereye (tauhou), morepork (ruru) and grey warbler (riroriro).

The kiwi population has been boosted by the release of captive bred birds. Numbers had dropped sharply in recent years, from around 50 birds in 1984 to just 5 in 2006. While Otanewainuku provides near perfect kiwi habitat they are under pressure from stoats, ferrets, feral cats and dogs. A lone kokako resides in the forest. In order to protect this endangered bird DOC relocated Otanewainuku kokako to Little Barrier Island in 1983. The Trust hopes to reintroduce kokako so once again their haunting calls will fill the forest.

Otanewainuku is also home to other native animals. The long tailed bat has been identified and two species of forest gecko have been found. The rare striped skink and more common copper skink may also be present as they have been located close by. Native frog populations have yet to be surveyed.

Flora
The Otanewainuku conservation area is a splendid example of an unmodified podocarp/broadleaf type forest. It has magnificent examples of mature rimu, tawa and pukatea, and king ferns are also worthy of note.  The forest holds a diverse range of flora with one study recording 302 indigenous plant species.

The make up of vegetation varies over the area dependent on the microclimate. Major canopy species are rimu, tawa, kohekohe, rewarewa, pukatea, hinau, tanekaha, mamaku, mangeao, matai, kahikatea, miro, Halls totara, kamahi, tawari and pigeonwood.   These majestic trees support a rich variety of epiphytes including orchids, perching lilies, rata and puka vines.
Understory species include kawakawa, silver fern, kanono, supplejack, nikau, kiekie, toropapa, mahoe, lancewood, fivefinger, pate, and gully tree fern. Groundcover is mostly crown ferns, hen and chicken fern, and seedlings of the above species.

The mature forest has allowed a thick carpet of leaf litter to build up on the forest floor. This provides a home for in excess of 1000 different species of invertebrates which in turn provides a rich source of food for kiwi, other birds, geckos and skinks. The litter also provides ideal conditions for seed germination from which the next generation of flora springs.