Of Māori descent, he identified with the Te Uri Taniwha hapū of the Ngāpuhi iwi.
[1] In about 1832 he attended the Kerikeri Mission Station of Church Missionary Society (CMS).
[2][4] The same year he was appointed by the CMS to lead the Maketu Mission, following Chapman moving to Auckland.
[5][6] He worked in the Tauranga and Maketu pastorate diocese until 1881, when he moved to live in Rotorua.
Faith's Church, Rotorua, which was consecrated by Bishop Edward Stuart on 15 March 1885.