 The river catchment and its tributaries are accessed via the Waitotara Valley Road and Ngutuwera Road, and associated side-roads.The village of Waitotara is the predominant settlement of the catchment, located at the junction of the Waitotara Valley Road and State Highway 3.The viability of the Waitotara settlement has recently been challenged by a number of devastating flood events, while the Waitotara School has undergone complete refurbishment.