Tūwharetoa did not take part in any of the early 1863 raids and battles in Auckland. Their first effort to join the Kingitanga patriots in the Battle of Ōrākau. A few Ngāti Tūwharetoa men, women and children fought the Colonials with their fellow soldiers inside the Orakau fortifications. The bulk of Horonuku Te Heuheu's Tūwharetoa warriors were prevented from entering the rebel stronghold by the early arrival of government troops, who quickly formed a ring around the stronghold to prevent reinforcement. Tūwharetoa warriors were left to watch from a hillside 900 metres away where they were intermittently bombarded by Armstrong cannons. They could only encourage the hapless defenders with haka from a safe distance.