The continued threat of violence and conflict resulted in many Te Ātiawa whānau and hapū taking the opportunity to migrate with Ngāti Toa Rangatira to Kāpiti, Te Ūpoko o te Ika and Te Tau Ihu, with some also travelling as far as Wharekauri.

This ofcourse was not a single exodus, but several heke over decades with many travelling back and forth from these areas to Taranaki.

While heke took place, small settlements throughout northern Taranaki maintained ahi kaa and were present on the return of a large part of our whānau in 1848 to resettle Waitara under Wiremu Kiingi Te Rangitaake.

Te Heke Mai Raro is the name of the migration of Ngāti Toa Rangatira away from their traditional lands in Kāwhia.

Led by Te Rauparaha, Te Peehi Kupe, Te Rangihiroa, Tungia and Te Rangihaeata, Ngāti Toa Rangatira migrated south and sought salvation in Taranaki due to insurmountable pressure from Waikato and Ngāti Maniapoto.

Te Heke Mai Raro had a profound impact on Taranaki and Te Ātiawa.

The first section of Te Heke Mai Raro which saw Ngāti Toa Rangatira arrive in Taranaki is called Te Heke Tahutahuahi and is followed by Te Heke Tataramoa, which saw our migration south to Kāpiti and beyond. 

It is Te Heke Mai Raro that created the strong whakapapa connections between Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Ngāti Raukawa.

Te Heke Tahutahuahi saw Ngāti Toa Rangatira arrive in Urenui, where they lodged at Pukewhakamaru and Okioki. 

While there, Ngāti Toa Rangatira were attacked by Waikato and Ngāti Maniapoto who had followed them to Taranaki. Heavily bolstered forces from Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga and Te Ātiawa saw Waikato and Ngāti Maniapoto defeated in this attack. 

Te Heke Tataramoa saw the migration of Ngāti Toa Rangatira from Urenui to head southward, where they were accompanied by hapū and iwi from Ngāti Tama, Ngātu Mutunga and Te Ātiawa.

During this time Te Heke Rua Maioro also occured. 

Te Heke Rua Maioro saw Ngāti Raukawa hapū from Maungatautaro in Waikato migrate to Horowhenua and Kāpiti. 

In 1825, other hapū from Ngāti Raukawa also migrated south to Horowhenua and Kāpiti. 

In 1827 many hapū from throughout Taranaki migrated to Kāpiti and Te Ūpoko o te Ika. This migration is known as Te Heke Taranaki.

Te Heke Taranaki was followed by Te Heke Whirinui which comprised of Puketapu, Pukerangiora, Manukorihi, Otaraua, Ngāti Uenuku, and Ngāti Kura hapū.

The chiefs who led this expedition were Te Manutoheroa, Te Tupe-o-Tu and Hau-te-Horo.

Te Heke Tama-te-Uaua was the largest migration of the northern Taranaki tribes, including Ngāti Maru Wharanui.

The hapū represented were Ngāti Hineuru, Ngāti Rahiri, Ngāti Puketapu, Ngāti Whakarewa, Ngāti Kaitangata, Ngāti Tupawhenua, Ngāti Tu, Ngāmotu, Ngāti Te Whiti and Ngāti Tawhirikura. The chiefs who led this migration were Tautara, Rauakitua, Haukaione, Te Wharepouri, Te Puni, Rangiwahia, Te Ito, Wi Tako, Ngatata-i-te-Rangi, and Te Matangi.