[1] Keepa's father was an early supporter of New Zealand Company settlement established at Whanganui and served as a constable in the Armed Police Force.

In 1848, Te Keepa was a constable in the Armed Police Force, and was likely serving at Waikane under the command of Major but a few years later was based at Whanganui.

[1] This was the start of six years of warfare for Te Keepa, always fighting on the side of the Pākehā government, usually working closely with Captain Thomas McDonnell.

In February 1865, Te Keepa and his force of Whanganui Māori warriors took part in the attack on Ohoutahi Pa, a major Pai Mārire stronghold.

Te Keepa gradually built up a personal contingent of between one and two hundred warriors, men who were paid by the government but whose loyalty was to him and his mana as a fighting chieftain.

He saw this as an opportunity to correct some of the wrongs done to his people during his childhood, a chance to regain some of the land they had lost to the Ngati Raukawa by conquest.

This almost brought the tribes to war, Te Keepa threatened to call upon his personal following of warriors if the government did not back up his decisions.

This provoked the government, but Te Keepa's large personal following of warriors meant they were very cautious in dealing with him.

He sought to unify the Maori tribes in the Te Kotahitanga (unity of purpose) movement, and force government adherence to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.