In early December, Colonel George Whitmore, commandant of the Armed Constabulary, arrived at Tūranga with 350 reinforcements for the local militia. They proceeded to Ngatapa after receiving reports that Te Kooti was still in the area and had not retreated to the Urewera country as first thought. In the meantime, Ropata had briefly returned to the East Cape to bring in more Ngāti Porou reinforcements and returned on 26 December with 300 men. Whitmore now had nearly 700 men, including 370 Ngāti Porou and 60 warriors of Te Arawa "iwi", from the Bay of Plenty, under his command for an attack on Ngatapa. A tight cordon was thrown around the "pā" on 27 December, cutting off its water supply, and a siege commenced. An assault on 4 January 1869 breached the outer defences. This forced Te Kooti to evacuate the "pā" at dawn the next day, descending down steep, unguarded bluffs. Many of the escapees were captured by pursuing Ngāti Porou and Te Arawa. Around 136 of the Ringatū followers were killed, either during the siege itself or executed afterwards on the orders of Ropata. Te Kooti himself escaped and made his way to the Urewera country. Whitmore's force lost 11 men killed and eight wounded. Afterwards, he was effusive in his praise of Ropata's leadership and fighting skills. Indeed, it was Whitmore who had recommended Ropata for the NZC.