We know Heke exists from her death certificate and her husband's death certificate that she was married to David CLARK approx. 1844, buried in Pauatahanui was 73 in early 1885 and according to her death certificate, was born in Kairoura (approx 1811). On her death certificate the informant never recorded her parents. She is named as Aheke on David CLARK's death cert. of 1900.
The family story is that she is one of the kidnapped by Te Rauparaha from Kaikoura in 1828 and kept as a slave at Kapiti Island. This is where she met David Clark, who was whaling at the time and would also have been on Kapiti Island. More>>