Complex sentence: When the Hau Hau tried to take over the Waiapu Valley Ropata led a war party against them, shortly afterwards the war chief of the Te Aowera was killed in battle and Ropata succeeded him as the War leader of his hapu.
Split into simpler sentences: When the Hau Hau tried to take over the Waiapu Valley Ropata led a war party against them. Shortly afterwards the war chief of the Te Aowera was killed in battle and Ropata succeeded him as the War leader of his hapu.