Ropata himself was staunchly Anglican, and was a founding member of the diocese of Waiapu. On 5 June, he was among a number of Te Aowera attending celebrations for the establishment of a church at Popoti, when they were advised that some Hauhau had arrived in the Waiapu Valley. In response to pleas by a Ngāti Porou leader, he gathered a party of 40 men, mainly from his own "hapū" of Te Aowera. His party was poorly equipped, with only a few flintlock muskets among them, and traditional weapons such as "mere" (club) and "taiaha" (staff). In contrast, the Hauhau were armed with modern rifles. On 20 June Ropata led an attack on the Hauhau, who had established a "pā" (hill fort) at Mangaone. Although the Te Aowera were defeated, Ropata gained some notoriety when, in single combat, he killed a Hauhau leader. The "rangatira" (chief) of the Te Aowera was killed in the engagement and Ropata succeeded him as the leader of his "hapū". He suffered another defeat two days later when his party was driven off during an attack of the Hauhau's pā at Pukemaire. In addition, their own "pā" at Tikitiki was captured.