Settlement on the Mohaka river has been shown by archaeologists to be continuous for at least twelve kilometers inland and often up to five or six kilometers away from river banks. These patterns also applied to the other major rivers within the traditional rohe of Ngati Pahauwera influence including the Waihua river, the Waikari, Arapaoanui and Waiohingaana. Population growth and land clearance put more stress on natural resources. Iwi soon recognized their survival was dependent on maintaining the mauri ora (healthy state) of natural resources and nga haroto o Uru te ngananga. (The rules to maintain environmental balance) Resource use was aligned to sustainability.

A constant principle of occupation was Te ahi ka roa or observable long- term use of the land typified by the smoke from your fire. The concept of Te ahika roa took into account the fact that people needed to move to where food resources could be best utilized at different times of the year. When Missionary William Williams visited Mohaka on the 14th of Decenber 1843 he found no one there. Another Minister said, “The people I see at Mohaka are the same people I see at Arapaoanui”. Each group had a number of cultivation areas, a number of fishing and food gathering areas. This mobile way of life (rekereke) also enabled resources to regenerate and the mauri ora of the area to be revitalized. The localised Ngati Pahauwera saying is taku reke reke taku turangawaewae or otherwise expressed ko ratou pa ko nga rekereke. Where their heels take them is where they make their living or stand. Another expression is “Kainga tahi kainga mate. Kainga rua kainga ora”. In short if you rely on one place for your sustenance you will die. A Recently retired Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court Eddie Durie in his paper on Maori Customs wrote “Proprietal interests pertained to resources, not land blocks and people owned usufructs not territories.” The extent of use rights also varied between the different classes of the people.