HOTUNUI AND MARUTUAHU

6.       Hotunui was banished from Kawhia by his father in law for being wrongly accused of the hara of taking kumara seedlings. Hotunui found refuge at Whakatiwai on the shore of Tikapa Moana among Te Uri o Pou of Hauraki. Hotunui had left behind his pregnant wife, Mihirawhiti, who bore him a son, Marutuahu.

7.       On his coming of age, Marutuahu left his home to seek his father. Hotunui was living in degrading circumstances as a maker of nets. After discovering the plight of his father, Marutuahu began a campaign of war against Te Uri o Pou. He defeated them. He then settled at Te Puia pa and, along with his sons, eventually gained control of the whole district.

8.       Marutuahu married two sisters, Paremoehau and Hineurunga. Paremoehau bore him three sons, Tamatepo, Tamatera and Whanaunga. Hineurunga bore him two sons, Te Ngako and Taurukapakapa.

9.       These sons were legendary warriors.

10.      Tamatera and Whanaunga formed the two tribes after whom they were named. Te Ngako was the founder of Ngati Maru. Together they, along with Ngati Paoa whose origins are from the union of Tukutuku (granddaughter of Tamatera) and Paoa, formed the Marutuahu Confederation of tribes. The sons established their mana throughout Hauraki by conquest and intermarriage with the earlier peoples of Hauraki.

11.      One of the whakatauki of the Marutuahu Confederation is “Marutuahu kowhao rau” - “Marutuahu of a hundred holes”. This is a reference both to the separate mana of the family of Marutuahu and their strong interdependence. It is also a reference to the many pa and areas that the Marutuahu occupied and shared. Although the tribes of Marutuahu had