There has always been confusion relating to the identification of the Marutuahu people. There is no tribe of that name (Ngati Marutuahu) and it merely refers to the five original iwi descended directly from the ancestor, Marutuahu, as a collective entity distinguishing them from the other peoples in Hauraki.
There is still some confusion up until the present day over the name Marutuahu. Many non-Hauraki people have always referred to the Marutuahu as Ngati Maru. In this report I use the term Marutuahu to refer to all of Marutuahu's issue, that is, Ngati Tamatera, Ngati Whanaunga, Ngati Maru and Ngati Paoa.
I make special reference to the Hauraki whakatauaki: Marutuahu, kowhao rau. This means Marutuahu of numerous refuges—from which clansmen rallied in times of threat. Literally it means the tribes of Maru of 100 eel holes. It emphasises the strong interdependence of the compact tribes who have lived, worked and fought in unison since their very inception.
Whilst engaged in their wars of attrition against the early tangata whenua, the Marutuahu tribes initially lived together at Puwhenua—the ancestral home—a kainga area between Kaiaua and Orere, on the western shores of Tikapa Moana. From this strategic platform they launched their many campaigns and, after about four generations of conflict, all of Hauraki came under their domination.
It was then that Marutuahu moved away and occupied the conquered lands. There was no great pressure in creating tribal areas of settlement. Ngati Tamatera generally occupied the Ohinemuri district; Ngati Maru and Rongo U, the Thames and Wharekawa East; Ngati Whanaunga remained at Puwhenua and extended to Waiau; and the emerging Ngati Paoa settled the sea coast of Wharekawa West and the inshore islands and much of the wetlands of the Waihou and Piako rivers.
Even then Marutuahu retained their cohesiveness by occupying lands in each others' territories. There is significant evidence of this situation in Katikati, Waihou, Piako, Kauaeranga, Moehau, Whitianga, Whakatiwai, Wairoa, Maraetai, Tamaki, Mahurangi and the gulf islands until colonial times.
