When Bishop George Selwyn visited in November 1842 Waitoa volunteered to accompany him on his journey back to the Te Waimate mission.

Iharaira Te Houkāmau opposed his appointment because he considered it an insult to his dignity to have a Māori catechist whose people he looked upon as bitter enemies.

[3] Waitoa was ordained as a deacon at St Paul's Church, Auckland, on 22 May 1853 and was licensed to the mission district of Te Kawakawa.

The Māori were: at Tokomaru, Matiaha Pahewa; at Wairoa, Tamihana Huata; at Turanga, Hare Tawhaa; at Waiapu, Rota Waitoa, Raniera Kawhia and Mohi Turei; at Table Cape, Watene Moeka; at Maketu, Ihaia Te Ahu.

He also opposed the Pai Mārire movement (commonly known as Hauhau) when it gained influence in the East Coast, and in 1865–66 he was forced to abandon Te Kawakawa mission for a short period of time.