Tamakana derives his status as a descendant of tupuna of Whanganui Iwi from his mother Ruataupo.

Ruatipua

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Pito

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Marukopiri

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Ruataupo

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Tamakana

He was related to the important tupuna of the lower river- Tamakehu. Tamakana also has lines of descent from Tuwharetoa and from Porourangi of the East Coast through his father Totokia.

Evidence from the Taurewa block hearing shows that Tamakana and his cousin Pouroto were leaders of Ngati Tuwharetoa who displaced the Ngati Hotu inhabitants of the Rotoaira region.

Tamakana built his house named Tawhitiwhakaruatapu on Taurewa mountain, but after a falling out with Pouroto he dispatched his cousin, and subsequently left Taurewa to live with his mothers people at Manganui o te ao.

Tuwharetoa sought revenge for the killing of Pouroto and conflict ensued with Tamakana and his whanau living at Manganui o te ao. Numerous war parties were formed on both sides which undertook raids against villages of the enemy.

The conflicts between Ngati Tamakana and Ngati Tuwharetoa were finally ended by the marriage of Tukaiora of Ngati Tamakana to Te Maari of Ngati Tuwharetoa. This union resulted in the birth of Te Wharerangi, whose son Matuaahu Te Wharerangi held great mana over lands south of Taupo, and at Tuhua and Manganui o te ao.

Tamakana was the sole tupuna set up in the largest block in the region -Waimarino. He has several lines of descent in the whakapapa of Upper Whanganui hapu through his mokopuna Marukowhara, Tangowhara, Tukiriwai and Tuatapa.