According to Waikato Tainui oral traditions, Kahukeke, the Māori healer and explorer, who had arrived in New Zealand on the Tainui migratory canoe fell ill at the spot and the area was named for the shelter where she recovered.

In some versions the shelter was built by her husband Rakatāura / Hape, the tohunga of the Tainui.

Kiwiburn, the New Zealand Burning Man regional, was held annually at the Whakamaru Domain, State Highway 30, from 2007 to 2013.

The town has a resident association, grocery store, cafe, pizza restaurant, and petrol station.

Guided walks are available for the nearby Mt Titiraupenga, located at the geographic centre of The North Island.