5. Late 1820s: Tainui and Taranaki Invasions; Kehu as Mokai to Ngati Rarua:

By the late 1820s another invasion from the North Island, this time by the combined tribes of Tainui (Ngati Koata, Ngati Rarua and Ngati Toa) and Taranaki (Ngati Tama and Te Atiawa) had secured a stranglehold on the districts of Te Tau Ihu (Nelson and Marlborough) and had begun to look further south. Many pockets of Kurahaupo people had sought refuge in the page 6hinterlands of Nelson (e.g. in the hills behind Brightwater and Wakefield) and further south, in districts such as Rotoroa. Contingents mainly of Ngati Rarua led by Niho Te Hamu, and Ngati Tama led by Takerei Te Whareaitu, with some assistance from chiefs and warriors of the other Tainui and Taranaki hapu (sub-tribes), proceeded out of Mohua and Te Tai Tapu and into Te Tai Poutini. Over a period of weeks they battled their way south through Te Tai Tapu and Te Tai Poutini into South Westland to as far as Okarito, overrunning pa and kainga (villages) en route. The senior rangatira (chief) of Poutini Ngai Tahu, Tahuru, was captured at Kohiterangi, inland from Hokitika and was taken to Rangitoto (D'Urville Is) to pay homage to Te Rauparaha. Tuhuru was then imprisoned for a few years at Patarau in Te Tai Tapu by Niho and Takerei. Tuhuru's prized mere pounamu (greenstone club), Kai Kanohi, was taken in tribute by Ngati Rarua and his daughter, Nihorere, was given (taken?) in marriage to (by?) Niho to effect Tuhuru's release. (Kai Kanohi remains a treasured possession of Ngati Rarua families of Wairau to this day).

During this round of conquests, Kehu was, for the second time in his life, taken as one of the spoils of victory; he now became mokai to two rangatira of Ngati Rarua, Aperahama Panakenake and Poria. Eventually he was to accompany them back to Motueka where they and a large number of Ngati Rarua put down roots to hold their newly-won territories. The Ngai Tahu warrior, Tau (killer of Kehu's father, Tamane, at Kotukuwhakaoho), was also captured in the same skirmishes and became mokai to Wiremu Kingi Te Koihua, Te Atiawa chief at Pakawau in Mohua, about 15 km from Aorere (Collingwood).

We do not have much information about Kehu's activities over the few years immediately following his transfer to Motueka. We assume that he must have acquitted himself well, and that the mana of his whanau was recognised by his captors, for they eventually granted him life tenure of lands in that district (more about this later). An urgent task for the new conquerors was to consolidate their position by clearing the hinterlands of Waimea, Moutere and Motueka river valleys of remnants of Ngati Apa and other refugees. Kehu's knowledge of those districts would have been invaluable to his Rarua masters.