Waikārapi forms part of a wider cultural landscape detailing a rich and sacred history. It describes the meeting point between freshwater systems and the intertidal flows of Te Koko o Kupe (Cloudy Bay). This area was once a hub for shelter, housing, and sustenance, supporting diverse iwi communities for generations.

 
The rich abundance of kai moana (seafood), rongoā (traditional medicine), and marakai (cultivated gardens) were all essential to the people’s survival. Evidence of their adaptability to changing climates and landscapes can still be seen in the 22 kilometres of hand-dug canals and fish traps scattered across Waikārapi.

Braided river systems, like those feeding Waikārapi - including the Ōpaoa and Wairau Rivers - are vital for biodiversity, ecological balance, and cultural heritage. These dynamic waterways, shaped by interwoven channels, create habitats which sustain unique species of plants, fish, and birds. Today, the role of kaitiaki for these precious waterways is upheld by the iwi of Rangitāne, Ngāti Rārua, and Ngāti Toarangatira.

Waikārapi is nestled into a wider landscape holding prime significance, with Te Hau in clear view to the South, Paepae Tangata (Richmond Ranges) to the North, and the peaks of Whetuao (Mt Dobson), Hinekoareare (Mt Strachan), Tokomaru (Mt Robertson), and Rahotia (in Port Underwood) surrounding the area.

Waikārapi carries the legacy of housing, sustenance and innovation forward, creating 94 residential sections, incorporating communal gardens (mara kai), a playground (papa tākaro), and open spaces at its core - a special place for us all to live, grow, and thrive - to be together as community (whanaungatanga).