Protest organiser Meremaihi Aloua said host hapu Tamawhariua, Pirirākau and Tauwhao recalled the history of the area at the dawn protest.
"Puketuki specifically is of enormous significance to us. We have held ahi kā [occupation] over this area for generations. This is not a new battle. But this is our turn now."
Reon Tuanau, of Ngāi Te Rangi, spoke to the crowd about the relationship with Hauraki iwi and how peace had been made in the past.
He said it was important to strengthen the relationship between iwi and told the people of Hauraki to "rise up".
"Fight for what's right, you know what's right and whakapapa tells us what is right," he said.
"We shouldn't be here fighting over this whenua [land], we should be celebrating our kinship and relationship with each other and strengthening our ties with those people."
He said the land and the relationships formed between iwi were "too special" to be ruined.
"Our tīpuna fought too hard physically to bring peace amongst us."
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little did not want to comment.