Maori were the first people to travel through the Mackenzie District to gather the natural resources (mahika kai). The Takata Whenua (people of the land) are descendants of the tribes of Kati Mamoe, Waitaha and Kai Tahu. There are many places throughout the District which have been used and occupied by Takata Whenua and the District remains spiritually and culturally important to them.
The District was first settled by Europeans in the 1850s and the first elected representatives served on the Mount Cook electorate of the Canterbury Provincial Council in 1862. The forerunner of the Mackenzie County and District Councils was the Mount Cook Roads Board which was set up in 1864.