 He was buried at the pā, which thus became tapu (sacred) and was abandoned.Early European travellers in the area were obliged by Māori to cross to the other side of the Waikato River to avoid the sacred area.In the early 19th century Kaitotehe was the home of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, the paramount chief of Ngāti Mahuta who became the first Māori King.