The Waitākere Falls, just below the dam, are 95 metres (312 ft) high and the third highest waterfall in the North Island.

[6] The area was the most densely settled area of West Auckland,[6] and the river banks were the locations of many Te Kawerau ā Maki kāinga, such as Ōhutukawa near Lake Wainamu, Motu, Ōkaihau, Raumati, Pihāriki, Parawai, and Waitī.

[7] While the river currently flows into the Tasman Sea south of Ihumoana Island at Te Henga / Bethells Beach, the river previously flowed north of the island, over-top of a rock named Waitākere ("cascading water").

[6] Over time, Te Kawerau ā Maki began referring to the entire river by the name Waitākere.

[8] The dam was constructed to solve successive drinking water crises faced by the city of Auckland.