[2] The most notable features of the Pakoka valley were formed by Upper Pliocene–Lower Pleistocene Okete Volcanics about 2 million years ago.

Apart from recent alluvial deposits, the other main rock in the valley is Hauturu Sandstone, which is mid to late Whaingaroan, about 30 million years old.

It is commonly knobbly due to resistant bands and lenses of hard calcareous sandstone in soft friable quartzofeldspathic sand.

Moving downstream on the true-left bank are bands of saltmarsh ribbonwood with marsh clubrush and raupo wetland behind.

"[7] Mitigation funding from Te Uku Wind Farm and support from farmers and Regional Council have resulted in Whaingaroa Harbour Care putting up 15 km of fencing to protect the river and its tributaries and planting 150,000 trees in the valley above Bridal Veil Falls.

Their 2006 survey identified these stream quality indicator species in the Pakoka,[11] - the higher the score, the more sensitive these macroinvertebrates are to pollution.