Prior to European settlement, much of the suburb consisted of marshlands and swamp which were heavily connected to the ecosystem of the Ōpāwaho. Proximity to the river and the original state of the land have caused the area to suffer damage in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes which hit the region. In many areas of the city including St Martins, ground levels dropped by 20-30 centimetres, making the already low-lying areas adjacent to the river more susceptible to flooding during periods of heavy rain.