There was a small area to the east of the river covered in coastal forest and scrub due to partial clearance and burning.

Floods and heavy rainfall are common to the area, and this, combined with the development, resulted in widespread erosion and large amounts of sediment being deposited in the river.

[3] The water quality of the river's tributaries is often much higher, as they are closer to the native vegetation cover of the Raukumara Ranges.

[2] The river and valley are within the rohe (territory) of Ngāti Porou, and are of immense cultural, spiritual, economic, and traditional value to them.

[4] The valley, which they call Te Riu o Waiapu, was a place where they could live, offering safe refuge during periods of war, and supplies of fresh water and various species of fish.

Many Ngāti Porou hapū (subtribes or clans) still live in the area, and the valley has a large number of marae.

Karaka said that a bridge was built from Tikitiki to Waiomatatini, to the protest of local Māori who were concerned that it would disturb the taniwha.

A local tohunga, George Gage (Hori Te Kou-o-rehua Keeti) was approached to help the situation, and after that there were no similar drownings.

[2] In December 2010, Ngāti Porou signed a settlement deal with the New Zealand Government for various grievances, some of which relate to the Waiapu Valley.

The settlement included a NZ$110 million financial redress, and the return of sites culturally significant to the iwi totally approximately 5,898 hectares (14,570 acres).

[10] There are no consents to take, use or dam water on the river or its tributaries, however a mini-hydro power station is expected to be operating in 2012 on a small stream in the catchment area.

[18] Gravel deposited by the river onto shingle beaches near its mouth is extracted at approximately 12 different sites, predominantly for use on nearby rural and forestry roads.