Archeological evidence
Pa
These were all on headlands, except for one at the north end of the island on a sheer cliff overlooking the open sea. These positions gave good natural defence, and enabled the defenders to observe enemies approaching by sea.
The pa were probably built after 1500 AD. They served as centres of hapu prestige, as well as forts. A Maori proverb says: "He wahine, he whenua e ngaro ai te tangata." ("for women and land men die.") Some wars were fought over the right to control good kumara gardening land and other resources. Others were reprisal for insult and trespass, or to increase hapu or tribal mana (prestige or status).
Periodic conflict broke out between Ngare Raumati and sub-tribes of the neighbouring Ngapuhi. Muskets were used as they became available. About 1829 Ngare Raumati were finally defeated by the Ngapuhi chief Rewa. This brought to an end a 300 year period of Ngare Raumati dominance in the southeast Bay of Islands.
Terraces
These are flat areas dug into the slopes of ridges, knolls and spurs. They form the remains of small villages and were usually close to gardens and the sea.
Pits
These are depressions in the ground varying in size from 8 m x 4 m to 2 m x 1 m. Some are between 1 m and 3 m deep, others are merely shallow depressions. They are the remains of roofed, underground storage pits where the kumara crop was stored over the winter. Small pits for daily family use are often found on terraces. Groups of large, communal pits were hidden away from villages for protection against raiding parties.
Gardens and drain lines
These are series of long, parallel depressions visible on the slopes and flat areas behind bays where kumara gardens were planted. They are very faint, and are best seen when the sun is bright and low in the sky. They drained water from heavier clay soils on the slopes, and probably also served as plot division markers.