While the thermal features aren't nearly as impressive as Yellowstone National Park in the US, the neat thing about this place is that it is a modern living village. While the Maori who live here have modern conveniences such as electric power, cars, and cell phones, they still do some things the traditional way such as cooking and bathing, all using the thermal features of the land.

Apparently, the village and the neighboring attraction, Te Puia, used to be run as one place but due to a conflict over expansion they're now two separate entities. Basically, the Maori would have had to move off their land which they weren't interested in doing. So now there is fenced off path between the two places. The other half seems to be much more commercialized and faring better - it does have better access to the biggest geyser in New Zealand, Pohutu, and I think there is also a big geyser field there. I haven't had a chance to visit yet.