 In December 1860 during the First Taranaki War campaign of the New Zealand Wars, British forces under Major-General Pratt carried out sapping operations against a major Māori defensive line called Te Arei ("The barrier") on the west side of the Waitara River, which was barring the way to the historic hill pā of Pukewairangi.During this operation, Colour Serjeant John Lucas was awarded the Victoria Cross on 18 March 1861.Historically, water quality of the Waitara River was poor due to uncontrolled discharges of untreated Waitara town sewage and to industrial wastes from the meatworks.