Two other ships called into the area in 1801: the El Plumier, which spent six months in the Waihou River, and the Betsy, about which little is known. The next recorded visit to the Firth of Thames was in 1815 although several ships reputedly called in to Mercury Bay between 1801 and 1808.
In 1815 Rev. Samuel Marsden and John Nicholas visited a large village on the western side of the Firth, possibly Whakatiwai, where the wife of 'Shoupah' (Te Haupa) lived. There was a pa on the hill nearby. Te Haupa at the time was living at another settlement to the north. There were few young men in the village as they had gone to join Te Haupa on the taua to East Cape (Nicholas 18171: 394). Marsden and Nicholas commented on the quality of the cloaks and mats offered for trade. Pigs and potatoes were observed and a large quantity of pigs had been housed in the area recently. Round storehouses were seen among the gardens of potatoes (Nicholas 18171: 401). Two other villages were in the vicinity: one mile south, and three miles to the north where Paetae resided. The men from here had not gone with Te Haupa. It was apparent to the Europeans that this area had a large population with three large villages, well maintained gardens and numerous huts scattered "all over in every direction" (Nicholas 18171: 404).
Five years later, in 1820, there was turmoil in the Hauraki area. Marsden reported pa in ruins and Colville Bay deserted (Elder 1932:253). Richard Cruise in the same year observed occupied villages and pa on the north side of Coromandel Harbour while on the south side there were temporary camps in which people collected shellfish and fernroot—a situation very reminiscent of that which Cook observed in Mercury Bay 50years earlier.
The size, the novelty, and the apparent protection of the Coromandel, brought the people from their more inland habitations, whiether (sic) they had long since been driven; but various circumstances afforded reason to suppose that they anticipated their banishment thither at a future period. They did not cultivate any ground, they dwelt in mere temporary huts, and had laid in an immense quantity of dried muscles (sic) and fish, which at present formed their only sustenance. (Cruise 1824:209)
It is apparent that people moved around, having different residences within the area. Marsden referred to Te Haupa ('Houpa') living in several places on the western side of the Firth of Thames (also at Hikutaia in 1801). Te Horeta also is known from several areas: Mercury Bay in 1769, Kirikiri in June 1820 and also in 1833, and Coromandel Harbour in August 1820. Similarly villages up the Waihou River were occupied at one time, only to be completely empty when another visitor passed through the area (Elder 1932:104, 106, 255, 276; Rogers 1961:344; Salmond 1991:197-98).
There are numerous examples of local skirmishes as well as major periods of warfare with tribes outside the Hauraki area. In 1801, the missionaries on the Royal Admiral observed war canoes going from the Waihou area to the western side of the Firth (Missionaries' Journal ms:25). Marsden in 1820 brokered peace between Te Hinaki of Ngati Paoa from Mokoia and Te Puhi from Kopu (Elder 1932:273-74).
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