In the heart of Aotearoa's North Island lies the vibrant region of Tāmaki Makaurau, now known as Auckland. Long before the arrival of European settlers, this land bustled with the rich culture and fierce conflicts of the indigenous Māori tribes.
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The land was bountiful, beckoning tribes from far and wide. Ngāi Tai, Te Kawerau-a-Maki, Ngāti Te Ata, and Ngāti Pāoa were just some of the tribes who settled in the lush landscapes of Maraetai, Whitford, and Howick, drawn by fertile soils and abundant seas. From the misty forests of Waitākere to the shores of the Hauraki Gulf, each tribe carved out their territories, cultivating kūmara gardens and reaping the bounty of the land.
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Yet, with prosperity came strife. The Wai-o-Hua, a powerful federation of tribes under Hua-O-Kaiwaka, dominated the Tāmaki isthmus, their prowess marked by terraced volcanic cones and fortified pā. But in the early 18th century, the balance of power shifted. Ngāti Pāoa expanded their influence, while Ngāti Whātua-o-Kaipara descended southward, challenging the established order.