Paratene Kopara, a principal Taranaki chief,was named as killed in the 'Journal of Events' dated 29 March 1860 and published in The Taranaki Herald 31 March 1860. The informant is named as Mr Brown and confirmation was gained from Tamati Wiremu, a chief at Poutoko.

Paratene Te Kopara, Taranaki tribe is listed as killed in The Taranaki Herald 7 April 1860. The same list is given in an open letter written in Maori by Native Secretary Donald McLean, dated ‘Taranaki’, 4 April 1860. Prickett, writing of the spelling differences, notes that McLean is likely to be correct because of his knowledge of Maori and he will have known some of the men. He is similarly cited by Grayling 1862:93 (Fig. 3).

Wellington Carrington in an account of the various contingents on their way north, published by The Taranaki Herald of 7 April, recorded that on Saturday, 24th March the Hapu, Nga Mahanga headed by Kingi Parenga and Paratene Kopara struck off into the bush at Tapuae, and went on to Ratapihipihi. Carrington recorded that they headed the Nga Mahanga at the battle at Major Lloyd’s farm, Waireka, and during the engagement on the 28 March 1860 Paratene was killed. Carrington described Paratene Kopara, Kingi Parenga and Perere as "the best fighting men of the tribe".

Gilbert (1861: 98) was informed by a Maori that Paratene had died in the encounter with the troops at the pa.

The Taranaki Herald 31 March 1860, 7 April 1860. Gilbert, T. 1861. New Zealand Settlers and Soldiers, or the War in Taranaki, Being Incidents in the Life of a Settler. London. Grayling, W.I. 1862. The War in Taranaki, During the Years 1860-61. New Plymouth, G.W. Woon. Belich, J. 1986. The New Zealand Wars: and the Victorian interpretation of racial conflict. Auckland, Auckland University Press AWMM