The Urewera country, to the west of East Cape, was rugged, mountainous terrain, and thickly forested, the home of the Ngāi Tūhoe "iwi". The Government had alienated Tūhoe with confiscation of its most valuable land. Te Kooti and around 30 acolytes soon gathered followers from among Tūhoe and mounted raids on Ohiwa and Whakatane for supplies and weapons. His actions during these and later raids were particularly ruthless, and drew the ire of the "iwi" and "hapu" surrounding the Urewera country and encouraged them to support the Government. Whitmore mounted an invasion of the Urewera country in early May, inflicting many casualties on the Tūhoe and destroying their homes and cultivated lands. Ngāti Porou warriors were slow to become involved in Whitmore's invasion of the Urewera country, only joining an expedition at Lake Waikaremoana in late May and that was withdrawn the following month after Te Kooti moved to the Taupo plains.