 Te Kooti became a successful trader on a ship plying from Gisborne to Auckland.When many of his hapū became Pai Mārire ("Hauhau") supporters, Te Kooti initially joined the government forces but is alleged to have taken gunpowder and given it to his brother, who was a member of the violent Hauhau.Martial law had been declared in the area which gave the government forces sweeping powers.