On 29 October 1853, a large area of the Wairarapa coastal land was acquired from Maori by the Crown as part of the Part Pahaua and Wilson's Run Deed. The transaction was made between Te Wereta Kawekairangi, Thomas Patoromiu, Patoromu and fourteen others, and the Chief Commissioner of the Crown's Land Purchase Department, Donald McLean (1820-1977). A number of reserves were retained by Maori, including one known as Waikekeno, which was described as: running near to the Sea to Huatokitoki, thence running along to Huatokitoki to the first range to Puongapupu, running along that range to Whatipu Waitohiariki Para o te Maoroki Waikekeno running in that stream till it reaches the sea. Part of the Waikekeno Reserve was occupied until the mid-nineteenth century and the papakainga included a meeting house and an urupa. The Reserve also contained Pukehuiake Pa (also known as Ahuriri Pa), which was the scene of an important battle between local iwi and the iwi of the Wairarapa lakes area. Ngaokoiterangi, the eldest son of Hinewaka (the eponymous ancestor of Ngati Hinawaka) and Tamaitohikura, was killed there by Te Hiha, a descendant of Te Rangitawhanga. Ngaokoiterangi's younger brother Hikarara revenged his death at Waikekeno. A whakatauki of Ngai Tumapuhia recalls Ngaokoiterangi and those that died in the battle: Kia hokowhitu Tumapuhia, putiki makawe tahi, heru tu rae anake. An image painted by William Mein Smith in the 1860s shows the settlement at Waikekeno in the 1860s. The picture shows four buildings, including a pataka. The pa can be seen in the background. However, it appears that the settlement was abandoned around the 1870s; in 1917, evidence produced for Pahaoa indicated that people had not lived on the land for approximately 40 years. The entire reserve had been surveyed by 1883 and it included approximately 1660 acres (672 hectares) of land. Although considered by European farmers to be too small to be economically viable on its own, the reserve was fitted for grazing and could turn a profit if grazed in conjunction with large portions of adjacent land. From 1884, the entire reserve was leased to Thomas Carswell of Masterton for a period of 21 years. From this point onward the majority of the reserve was leased and later sold to Pakeha who farmed it together with large tracts of adjacent land. On 22 July 1887 a certificate was issued for the land to 55 grantees under the Native Reserves Titles Grants Empowering Act. The first subdivision of the reserve occurred two years later on 6 October 1889. The subdivision resulted in six separate sections of varying sizes. Waikekeno 1, located at the mouth of the Waikekeno Stream, consisted of just over 53 acres (22 hectares) and had 22 owners. The minutes of the Native Land Court record that this block was intended to be set aside for a township. The township was to consist of 25 acres for Ngati Maahu, 25 acres for the descendants of Te Wereta Kawekairangi, and 2 acres for Ataria Punua. Despite this, the township was not occupied and the block continued to be used for grazing purposes. The following year Thomas Carswell transferred the remainder of his 21 year lease over the entire reserve to Frederick Hales. The lease was renewed for a further ten years on 30 June 1905. Three years later part of Hales' lease was transferred to C. A. Cameron. Further subdivisions of the reserve occurred on 26 May 1911 when the two largest land blocks, Waikekeno 2 and 3, were broken into seven parts. The first alienation occurred on 11 July 1911 when a land parcel was purchased by Mary Eliza Cameron. Margaret Cameron purchased several more of the subdivided parcels in 1913. Further purchases were made in the 1920s and early 1930s by Margaret and Muriel Constance Cameron. However, the remainder of the reserve continued to be leased, primarily by members of the Cameron family. Subdivisions of the reserve continued until the late 1920s. Amongst these was the partitioning of Waikekeno 2B6 on 25 August 1914, and the subdivision of Waikekeno 1 into four parts (held by fifteen owners) on 30 January 1917. One of these parts, Waikekeno 1A, was set aside for the purposes of an urupa and vested in the names of Patoromu Hoera and Hape Renata. Waikekeno 1C was further subdivided into three parts on 9 October 1917. A road was put through the reserve in 1929. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the leases came up for renewal. This prompted applications to purchase and much of the land was alienated during this period, leaving only two major subdivisions, Waikekeno 3E and 2B6B, in Maori ownership. Waikekeno 2B6B was the site of Pukehuiake Pa. However, the urupa (Waikekeno 1A) and parts of Waikekeno 1C were also retained. The final block to be alienated was Waikekeno 1B. In 1965 Francis Crawford Cameron applied to purchase the land, in association with Thomas Allan Cunningham, for £720. A meeting of the owners was held in Palmerston North on 19 March 1965. Although the largest shareholder was in favour of the sale, it was resolved not to sell. One of the attendees stated that it was his opinion that this block was known as a papakainga and had contained a meetinghouse. It was also noted that the block included a cemetery. However, records failed to indicate whether there had been a papakainga there or not and, in May 1965, the Maori Land Court granted approval for the sale.
In 1991 the Cameron family, who had been associated with the site since 1908, sold their interests in the land. Waikekeno was purchased by the Thompson family, who continue to use it for grazing purposes.
