Waitaha is Māori and it literally means wai a river or stream taha to be passed on one side.

Coarse gold has been dredged downstream of Morgans Gorge where the river opens into the flats.

[citation needed] There is a proposal by Westpower Ltd to divert water from the river for power generation.

It is opposed by the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, Whitewater NZ (the group representing the interests of kayakers and canoeists), and the Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC).

[4] DOC had given approval in principle for a 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) water race to be built as a tunnel,[4] and was to make a final decision after public hearings had finished in December 2016.