Wisely, Tamatera took his mother's advice and journeyed back to the Ohinemuri seeking refuge with his sons, Taharua and Taiuru ,who were living at Ngahinapouri, Komata. By this time he and Hineurunga had two children, a son Te Hihi and a daughter called Te Aokuranahe. The latter he took with him leaving Te Hihi behind with his mother. This son was later to become a warrior of note and the principal ancestor of the subtribe, Ngati Tawhaki of Ngati Tamatera.
He also carried away the tribal mauri, a stone effigy called Marutuahu after his father, which was centuries later deposited in the care of the Auckland Museum (some 100 years ago). Tama spent some time with Taharua, but finally, on being confronted by other members of his tribe, moved on to Katikati where, when his daughter reached adulthood she married the Ngati Awa chief; Tunumoko of Mataatua waka. They in turn had a son named Pukeko who was to become the eponymous ancestor of that great tribe now living at Whakatane. It is said that Tamatera also moved to that place and died there, a very old man, far from the turmoils of war still being waged in Hauraki.
When the Ngati Tamatera became firmly established under their various leaders many subtribes were formed and these divisions commanded vast areas in Hauraki. During the next 30o years they became involved in continuous warfare not only among their related tribes but also, led by their bloodthirsty war leaders, in the northern realms of Ngapuhi and Tamaki; Waikato; Tauranga, Whakatohea; Tuwharetoa; Manawatu, Horowhenua, Kapiti; and Heretaunga, Kaikoura, Akaroa and Kaiapohia.
By marriage alliances they were closely related to the Ngati Raukawa of Te Kaokaoroa-o-Patetere with whom they joined in the many excursions against other tribes. They took refuge among them during the musket wars of Ngapuhi in the 1820s. On their return to their own lands some years later they found that with the advent of European settlers, their efforts were directed once more toward the retention of their lands.
Many of Tamatera's descendants have emerged as leaders of note and have impacted upon not only the affairs of their own people but that of the country as a whole. As with all other tribes, these accomplishments may not have eventuated had some of their ancestors not transgressed in the manner known. Let history be the sole judge of their indiscretions in the memorials of time.
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