Early ancestors on the land included the descendants of Maui, Toi Kai-rakau, Paikea, Tamatea Pokai-whenua, Tahu and Ira. Competition for land, women and food often led to tensions between relatives resulting in warfare, migrations and shifting of alliances. An important Ngati Pahauwera ancestor Tureia got into a dispute with his mothers people Ngai Tahu, when fishing in the Mohaka river. His father in law Kahutapere assisted him in battle and they defeated the section of Ngai Tahu under Tahutoria and Tukemokihi. From that time on the mixed descendants of Kahutapere and Tureia and their relatives dominated the area between Mohaka and Ahuriri.

After the alienation of the Mohaka/Waikare lands to the Crown, Iwi continued to cross the river for travel to Kaimoana areas, fishing and work on Pakeha farms. With the traditional use of that area out of their control, the knowledge of historic information was less relevant to every day living so oral transmission of information relating to sites, and customary use on the southern side of the river was limited in detail. There are also no Maori Land Court minutes about this area. In 1989 Ngati Pahauwera opposed a application for an Water Conservation Order on the Mohaka river and filed a Waitangi Tribunal claim. Research relating to this case demonstrated the extent of historic knowledge lost relating to sites and occupational use on the Mohaka/Waikare lands. Prior to the signing of the treaty the southern extent of the boundary of Te Kahu O Te Rangi was Te Wai o Hingaanga or the Esk river that in those times flowed out at Ahuriri.