This story unfolds with the banishment of the Tainui chieftain, Hotunui, who was accused by his father-in-law, Mahanga, of stealing seedlings of kumara from the latter's plantations. Choosing voluntary exile, Hotunui in his shame abandoned his home at Kawhia and also his pregnant wife Mihirawhiti. He charged her to name the unborn child Marutuahu, should it be male, after the incident of theft. He journeyed eastward and finally gained refuge with the Hauraki tribe Te Uri-O-Pou who dwelt on the western shores of Tikapa Moana (the Hauraki Gulf) at Whakatiwai. Renowned as a weaver of nets, Hotunui was used as such by these people who subjected him to all the indignities accorded a lowly slave. He was resigned to spending the rest of his life in these reduced circumstances of semi-bondage.
Back in Kawhia his wife, Mihirawhiti, had given birth to a son whom she accordingly named Marutuahu as directed by her absent husband. As he grew into manhood, Maru was placed under instruction and became accomplished in all the arts of leadership, husbandry and warfare as befitted his rank. During that period he developed a strong desire to see his father whom he had never known.
Accompanied by his servant he set out toward the rising of the sun as his mother had instructed him. After many intervening incidents he eventually discovered his father living in degrading conditions amongst Te Uri-O-Pou, whom he vowed to exterminate. Maru by then had married two sisters, Paremoehau and Hineurunga, who were partly of that tribe and also of Kahui-Ariki. Seeking the aid of his wives' people he carried out, over a period of time, one of the most ruthless campaigns of revenge against Te Uri-O-Pou. After many major battles this culminated in the final destruction of the unfortunate tribe at the battle of Te Urupukapuka. Settling with his family at Te Puia pa, Marutuahu became the lord of all the lands in that district.
After the complete subjugation of Te Uri-O-Pou there followed a period of relative peace during which his sons, Tamatepo, Tamatera, Whanaunga, Te Ngako and TauruKapakapa reached manhood. They became known as the famous fighting sons of Maru whose bloodletting deeds were said 'to pale the reddened skies at dawn'. They and their descendants formed the Marutuahu federation of tribes or collectively just Marutuahu (the tribes of Maru). They were Ngati Rongo U, Ngati Tamatera, Ngati Whanaunga, Ngati Maru and Ngati Paoa. By the turn of the 19th century, Ngati Rongo U were absorbed into the more dominant sections of Marutuahu and have now been phased out as a tribal group.
The Marutuahu Campaigns
The Marutuahu now felt securely established in Hauraki. They had no particular desire to expand their territories, nor did they have cause to do so. The sons had taken wives from the indigenous Ngati Hako and Ngati Huarere, which seemed to reinforce the peaceful co-existence with the tangata whenua.
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