He was the Member of Parliament for several electorates: Coromandel 1881–1890, Thames 1890–1893 (resigned), City of Auckland 1893, Waikato 1893–1896 and Ohinemuri 1896–1899, when he retired from the Lower House.[2] He resigned and was re-elected in the 1893 by-election after a challenge to his personal integrity.
In 1899 he was then appointed to the Legislative Council, of which he was a member from 21 December 1899 until he died, and was Speaker from 7 July 1904 until he died.