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I te tīmatanga ka awhitia rātou e Waikato me Ngāti Hauā, ēngari nā te kitenga e hiahia kē ana ki te noho tūturu, ka tupu te raruraru. Ka noho te rangatira o Ngāti Maru, a Takurua, i runga i te kaha o tōna mana i tana pā i Matamata, kāhore i tawhiti rawa atu i te tāone o ēnei rā, o Waharoa, ā tae noa ki te tau 1825.
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Te Waharoa became the principal leader of Ngati Haua. He led his people in a series of fights and alliances to preserve their lands in central Waikato against occupation by neighbouring tribes. After Nga Puhi raids in the Hauraki area, culminating in an attack on Te Totara pa (near present day Thames) in 1821, Ngati Maru tribes retreated inland up the Waihou River to Te Aroha district. They also settled along the Waikato River from Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) to Maungatautari. Initially Ngati Maru were granted refuge by Waikato and Ngati Haua, but when they showed signs of settling permanently, tension began to mount. The Ngati Maru chief Takurua maintained his ground at Matamata pa, near the present town of Waharoa, until 1825. After much fighting between Ngati Haua and Ngati Maru, Te Waharoa and Takurua came to terms, and shared Matamata. Tension remained, however, and in 1827, while Te Waharoa was absent in Tauranga, Ngati Haua attacked Ngati Maru and killed Takurua. Te Waharoa, on his return, attacked Ngati Maru again, at Waiharakeke, near Te Aroha mountain. With Ngati Maru driven out of Matamata, it became the principal pa of Te Waharoa.
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