Their mother and sister had been murdered and their bodies consumed in an attack by the Ngare Raumati Iwi on Okuratope Pa, (Waimate North) in 1800.
[3] Moka and his two brothers Te Wharerahi and Rewa participated in the bloody Musket Wars of the 1820s-1830s, which caused wholesale destruction across the North Island, resulting in numerous deaths, slavery, and the displacement of a large number of people.
Approximately 25 chiefs from the Far North (including Moka, Te Wharerahi, and Rewa) as well as a number of missionaries, settlers, and commanders of visiting naval vessels were present.
[6] Moka and his two brothers were original signatories to the Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand signed at Waitangi on 28 October 1835,[7] which guaranteed the Māori chiefs their sovereignty, with this document being officially recognised by the Crown in 1836.
A few years later, the Crown could see the benefits to the British Empire in gaining sovereignty over these islands and in 1839 it decided to attempt to annex New Zealand by introducing a new document that would, in effect, revoke the Declaration of Independence.
[citation needed] Captain William Hobson was sent to New Zealand with the express aim, of ensuring that this new document was formulated and agreed upon by the Māori chiefs and he arrived in the Bay of Islands aboard HMS Herald on 29 January 1840.
On 30 January 1840, at the Christ Church, Kororareka, Hobson read a number of proclamations which related to the Crown's intention to extend the territories of New South Wales to include New Zealand, Hobson's own appointment as Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand, as well as clarify guidelines in relation to land transactions (especially the issue of pre-emption).
Rewa and Moka vigorously opposed the signing, whilst Te Wharerahi sided with the Crown.
"[Moka]...was an important northern alliance leader, and he threw the weight of his mana behind his brother's opposition to the kawana and the Treaty.
William Colenso the CMS mission printer in 1890, published his account of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in which some of the speeches are quoted.
"[12] He had brought to public attention, the fact that a number of Europeans had been breaking the law in relation to the Proclamation signed only a week prior.
Following Hobson's explanation, Moka also publicly challenged Charles Baker to return his land, saying "That is good, O Governor!
[16] Later in the proceedings, "...Wharerahi, one of the most important and senior of the northern alliance chiefs, and older brother of Rewa and Moka...now spoke in support of it [Treaty]....He was the first chief to appeal to the idea that having the governor would assist in the creation of peace between the tribes..."[17] Wharerahi said: "Is it not good to be in peace?
'[19] Hokianga chiefs Eruera Maihi Patuone and his brother Tāmati Wāka Nene joined Wharerahi and show their support toward the Crown, by arguing for them to remain in New Zealand.
Although Moka's name appears on the Tiriti o Waitangi (in well-developed English cursive) and the claim by academics and historians that he signed this document, his "mark" is notably absent.
[20] Māori academic Brent Kerehona (Ngāpuhi/Whakatohea/Tuhoe/Whanau-a-Apanui), claims that on close inspection, it seems as though Moka was a person of high significance.
[21] He was an original signatory to the Declaration of Independence (the same document that the Crown had aimed to revoke), was the only Māori signatory to the Proclamation and after raising specific issues, as well as questioning Hobson about pre-emption and illegal land transactions at the meeting at Waitangi, appears not to have been satisfied with the explanations provided and chose not to sign the Treaty of Waitangi.