The third son of Marutuahu, Whanaunga, as already mentioned in the foregoing narrative was the most aggressive of all the brothers. His early exploits figure in the anecdotes of other tribes as well as his own. His progeny are widespread and can claim a genealogical association with the many tribes of Aotearoa.
After taking part in the early conflicts against the ill-fated Ngati Huarere and Te-Uri-O Pou, he made his headquarters at Whakatiwai, occupying lands bordered by the Orere Stream to the north and the Kaiaua Stream in the south at Puwhenua. At this point he appears to have adopted a roving role which periodically took him to his father's former home at Kawhia. While there he took part in the various wars in which the Tainui tribes were engaged during that period of expansion and settlement.
On the death of his father, Marutuahu, Whanaunga was at Kawhia but was not able to return until some years later. When he did so he carried out the normal hahu rites over his father's remains and asked his mother whether there had been any requests bequeathed him in the old man's ohaki (dying words). Paremoehau replied that Maru desired that he, Whanaunga, sever his father's penis to fashion a sheath for his koauau (nose flute). She also informed him that his elder brother, Tamatera, had assumed his father's authority and taken his whaea (aunt, mother) as his wife. At this, Whanaunga became enraged, threatening to confront Tama the next morning and probably kill him.
It was not long after this that Whanaunga sought to break away from the parent tribe and form his own division. Also by this time, the last phase of the wars with Ngati Huarere was being scaled down and Ngati Hako had entered the arena of combat. Parts of Huarere's territories were being vacated and therefore available for occupation by the victors.
Whanaunga and his sons had carried out their campaigns on the areas directly opposite Whakatiwai in particular and promptly claimed them for their people. Whanaunga was reasonably placed in his position and remained so until his death; it was not until several generations afterwards that the growth and strength of his tribe demanded their expansion to the lands about Manaia to which they had made a prior claim.
The tribal division of Ngati Paoa was just forming as well and because of their mutual occupation of the western gulf lands blood-ties were developing swiftly. Ngati Tamatera had left to settle the conquered lands of Ngati Hako at Ohinemuri and Ngati Maru were
