The largest settlement is Te Reinga, at the junction of the two rivers, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) north of Wairoa.

Pourangahua rowed over in his canoe and performed magic spells which forced the two hills apart, allowing the river to flow once more.

J. H. Mitchell suggested that this story preserves memory of an earthquake that caused a landslip to block the river.

Eventually, Ruamano decided to return to the ocean, creating the outlet of the lake as he burst out.

[5] In the eighteenth century, there was a pā called Wharekopae at Te Reinga, inhabited by Tutaki and Puraho.