He was the third Member of Parliament for Western Maori from 1876, when he defeated Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui and the incumbent, Wiremu Parata. He retired at the subsequent election in 1879. He was a minister without portfolio, and on the Executive Council of the Grey Ministry (17 November 1877 – 8 October 1879).
His life work was recording Māori history and tradition, particularly of Tainui and Hauraki.
He was also involved in contemporary affairs such as land disputes, as at Parawai in 1894 where he contracted a cold, later an inflammation, and died.