Records indicate that in response to European interests in gold prospecting on their lands, Karewa participated in meetings of chiefs of the Hauraki region.

Correspondences detailing these meetings indicate Karewa acknowledged European control over certain regions, but maintained that the Hauraki chiefs had independent land rights.

[4] The photograph shows Karewa wearing a pihepihe, a type of cloak generally adorned cylindrical tags made of flax.

[5] He was also the subject of a watercolor painting by artist and soldier Horatio Gordon Robley wearing a garment similar to the Iles photograph.

[7] The Oceanic Art Society praised the quality of the facial markings, commenting that Karewa showed the moko "to great advantage.