[3] The Heathcote River flows through Wigram, Hillmorton (where the main springs are located), Hoon Hay (and from there around the base of the Port Hills), Spreydon, Cracroft, Cashmere, Beckenham, St. Martins, Opawa, Woolston and Ferrymead.

The surrounding area was an important mahinga kai, a source of plentiful food, especially tuere (blind eel) and kanakana (lamprey).

Over many centuries of using the river as a food source and transport corridor, the iwi of Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe and Ngāi Tahu fostered a close relationship with this resource.

The 510-metre (1,670 ft) long project, which cost NZ$2m, had as a consequence that the trees on the riverbank died as far upstream as the Opawa bridge, and that banks collapsed.

Extensive investigations revealed that the trees died from salt water travelling further upstream with every tide (with the salt killing the trees), that the soil structure changed (a sodium and calcium exchange in the clay molecules weakened the soils) and the tunnelling mud crab had extended its range up the river, further weakening the banks.

During 2008, Christchurch City Council consulted on a management plan for the section of river located between Colombo Street and Opawa Road, which was formally adopted on 9 April 2009.

[12] Work has been completed in 2021 on stormwater basins at the upper Heathcote to improve the water quality, manage flood risk with an added benefit of providing additional recreational spaces.