Wata Temeia, a chief and a Waikato, was reported as killed, at Waireka 28 March 1860, in The Taranaki Herald 'Journal of Events' dated 29 March 1860, published 31 March 1860.

He is recorded as Wata (a Waikato) in a list of the Taranaki tribe who were killed printed in The Taranaki Herald 7 April 1860.

This list is given in an open letter written in Maori by Native Secretary Donald McLean, dated ‘Taranaki’, 4 April 1860, with the name Waata Tirua. Prickett (2005) 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.

The Taranaki Herald 31 March 1860, 7 April 1860. 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