He grew up in the area of modern Gisborne, but was defeated in battle by Tu-te-kohi and resettled at Moumoukai on the Nūhaka River in northern Hawke's Bay, where his descendants still live today.
[3] As an adult, Rakaipaaka lived at Waerengaahika with the family of Hinemanuhiri and controlled the area west of modern Gisborne as far as the Te Ārai River.
[5] Tu-te-kohi, the rangatira based at Tūranga (modern Gisborne), invited Rakaipaaka to visit him, but offered poor hospitality, giving all the best food to his kurī (dog), called Kauere-huanui, which he allowed to run around all over the eating area.
Rakaipaaka restrained his anger and went home, but one of his followers, Whakaruru-a-nuku snuck back into the village, killed the dog, and ate it.
[6] Desiring revenge, Tu-te-kohi raised a force together with Māhaki, whose wife had slept with another one of Rakaipaaka's followers, and the twins Rongomai-mihiao and Rongomai-wehea of Uawa (Tolaga Bay).
His war party met up with that of Tama-te-rangi at Te Poti (near Wairoa), where they held a hui (discussion), until Rakaipaaka's teenage son, Urewera, shouted "Are we here for the black or the red?!"