4. Tamane's Death, Kehu as Mokai (Serf) to Poutini Ngai Tahu:

Kehu's father, Tamane, was killed at this battle by the Ngai Tahu warrior, Tau, and Kehu was captured by Poutini Ngai Tahu. Kehu was a boy of about 12 at the time; he was already a seasoned traveller throughout the Tumatakokiri domains lying between Te Tai Tapu, Mohua and the West Coast and into the hinterlands and watersheds of the great rivers, Kawatiri, Inangahua and Mawhera. With his capture began a life as mokai (serf, slave); a status he never really shrugged off until well into colonial times. However, Kehu's adolescence and young adulthood were probably more peaceful than his early years, once the majority of his Tumatakokiri relatives had been killed or subdued in subsequent battles over the 2 or 3 years following Kotukuwhakaoho. His family's status as part Ngati Apa/Ngai Tahu of high rank possible saved him from the worst aspects of slavery under Ngai Tahu. We believe that during this period his life involved seasonal migrations to the mahinga kai (food-gathering places) of the inland lakes, rivers and river flats for eels, ducks and botanicals, and to the coastal food baskets.