The coalition against Papara fell to pieces as quickly as it was made. Tutaha quarreled with Vehiatua, we know not for what reason, and undertook to break down the Outer Tevas as he had broken down the Inner Tevas. Such a scheme could not have been in the interest of Tu, who owed most of his power to his alliance with Vehiatua; and the plan was openly opposed by old Teu, or Hapai, Tu’s father, but without effect. Tu was obliged to follow Tutaha. I will quote what we know of the story, from the missionaries’ sketch of island history in the "Voyage of the Duff," taken almost wholly from Forster.

"Tootaha had obtained a great quantity of curious and useful articles from his European guests, and he availed himself of the acquisitions to increase his influence over the chiefs of the larger peninsula. He succeeded in persuading them to unite their forces against Teiar-raboo, which he wished to reduce to its former state of subjection. Waheadooa, who fought only to enjoy peaceably the independence he had established, pleaded the services he had rendered to Tootaha as an argument to divert him from his hostile designs, which Waheadooa had learned and was prepared to resist. The military pride and ambition of the regent urged him to persist in his attempt; and having equipped a fleet of war-canoes, he sailed toward the smaller peninsula and engaged the naval force of Waheadooa, with nearly equal loss on each side. Tootaha retired, with a determination to try his success by land. His brother Happae disapproved of this measure and remained at Oparre; but Tootaha obliged Otoo, who always disliked fighting, to accompany the army. It engaged that of Waheadooa at the isthmus and was totally routed. Tootaha and Tooboorae Tamaede were killed on the spot, Orette [chief of Hitiaa] and many others severely wounded,

Indigenous Histories