[1] He was a strong supporter of Pakeha economic concepts and institutions; at a great meeting at Paetai, near Rangiriri, in May 1857, he spoke against a proposal to install Te Wherowhero of Ngati Mahuta as Maori King arguing that the title of "King" appeared to place Te Wherowhero above the Governor.

He asked that a wooden courthouse be built there for magistrate John Gorst, and suggested that Maori youths be drilled to keep order.

Lieutenant General Duncan Cameron appointed him a captain in the colonial militia and Te Wheoro joined Waata Kukutai in ferrying supplies from steamers at the Waikato Heads to the Camerontown redoubt, until the supply line was severed by a Ngati Maniapoto attack in September 1863.

[1] From late 1863 Te Wheoro began to act as intermediary between the Government and the King movement and in 1865 became an assessor in the Native Land Court.

[1] Te Wheoro resigned as a native commissioner in 1879, disenchanted with his role and believing his people were treated unfairly.