In the 1910s Wiremu (also known as William, or Bill) moved to live in Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast of the North Island.

Bill Te Whata began playing rugby on the East Coast of the North Island.

[4] After a "forward sweep" Te Whata "got over and scored" their only try in a 12–3 loss where a trumpet was blown to announce the end of the match.

When they played four days later against a Hawke’s Bay Māori side their manager told the Hastings Standard that they were in fact a "country team, picked in Tokomaru, from a population of from 1000 to 1500 people" rather than the Waiapu district.

They played a match against the visiting Tolaga Bay side which saw a 6–6 draw with Te Whata continuing his try scoring feats notching a try for the hosts.

[6] Te Whata was then named in the East Coast side to play against Poverty Bay on 13 August at the Childers Road Reserve.

East Coast was just beginning as combined rep team with players made up from Te Araroa, Tokomaru, Tolaga Bay, Tikitiki, and Ruatoria.

The game saw considerable interest because the match was essentially a trial to see who would be picked in the combined team to play against the touring Springboks.

A story is related where George Gillett, the famous All Black and New Zealand rugby league player was working as a publican in the Gisborne area at the time.

He approached Joe Lockwood, his twin brother Mason, and Te Whata and asked them if they would go to Auckland "for a trial of league".

[13] It is unclear if there was a trial but Te Whata was to play for New Zealand Māori against Auckland on 20 May at Carlaw Park as part of their build up to their Australian tour.

The Māori side won by 28 points to 18 against a strong Auckland team which featured 12 current or future Kiwi internationals.

In their first tour match they were destroyed by the Metropolis team at the Sydney Cricket Ground in front of an enormous crowd of 35,000.

At the end of the season Te Whata was awarded a gold medal, which was presented to him by Mr. W. Pascoe of Auckland "for the best all-round player" of the Australian tour.

Towards the end of the season on 20 September he was selected for the Auckland Provincial team to play the touring New South Wales side.

On the Auckland Domain before 12,000 spectators Te Whata’s Australasian team was beaten by New South Wales 65 to 27, though he did score three tries for the ‘home’ side.

[30] At the start of the 1923 season Bill Te Whata attempted to be reinstated into the rugby union ranks.

In what was to become a somewhat infamous case that was widely reported in newspapers throughout New Zealand Te Whata admitted to receiving money to play rugby league.

The NZ Rugby Union rather matter of factly refused his application with Mr. A. C. Kitto stating "he has expelled himself.

In a story in the Gisborne Herald on 26 June it was said that he was "joining the ranks of the Benedict’s on Wednesday", and "after going to Timaru for his honeymoon, Mr Te Whata goes to Auckland, where he is to play against the English League team".

Te Whata said that he was disappointed and could not understand the attitude of the rugby union and said "play league again; Can you blame me?".

[34] He joined the Athletic club after being granted a transfer by the Auckland Rugby League subject to approval by the New Zealand Council.

He was on the end of a pass from his former New Zealand Māori teammate Craddock Dufty and "literally dived over and scored Athletic’s first try".

Te Whata was selected to play for the Auckland Provincial team to meet them in their 3rd tour match on 30 July.

The test was played at Carlaw Park in front of 22,000 spectators, where unfortunately the ground was covered in mud and the players struggled in the conditions.

Te Whata was to play in his more familiar position of the second row where he was supported by Neil Mouat, and Bert Avery.

[47] The Evening Post described Te Whata as "one of the sturdiest of the Auckland team" and when compared to Ben Davidson who scored 3 tries and who would soon go on to play for Wigan as being "easier to catch, but harder to stop".

[54] It is unclear if he ever was reinstated but there is no link with him and the rugby game after this time though he remained active in athletics, cycling and bowls throughout the 1930s and 40s in the Poverty Bay area.

His death notice in the Gisborne Herald stated that he was the "beloved son of Edward and Repeka Te Whata, of Hokianga" and was aged 40 years.

He was said to have come to live on the East Coast after leaving Hokianga 23 years earlier with a party of Ngāpuhi bushfellers.