He is the son of former Cook Islands Prime Minister Sir Terepai Maoate.
[1] He later attended Whangarei Boys College and the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
In September 2010 he threatened to quit the Democratic Party if his father's nomination for the seat of Ngatangiia was not confirmed.
[3] In February 2020 he was appointed Democratic Party spokesperson for Audit, Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Financial Intelligence Unit, Seabed Mining Authority and Natural Resources.
[4] In March 2021 he was replaced as deputy leader of the Democratic Party by William (Smiley) Heather.