Descendants of the Tainui waka are the first recorded settlers of the area. They established Purakau Pā at the junction of the Kaniwhaniwha stream and the Waipa river and settled the lower valley. Mahanga's son suffered a major defeat to Kawhia Māori and Mahanga suffered a major defeat to Europeans during the Invasion of the Waikato; his land was confiscated and he was forced to relocate to the north.