They had moved from being a collection of independent tribes to an effective confederation known as the Māori King Movement , which was centred on the Waikato region , but which had influence over large areas of the North Island .
They had moved from being a collection of independent tribes to an effective confederation . 
 This was called the Māori King Movement and was largely centred on the Waikato region , but had influence over large areas of the North Island .