 He intervened with less immediate success in a land dispute between John Harding and Heta Tiki of Waipawa, but the case was eventually resolved in favour of the Māori owners.In the 1884 election, Tomoana was defeated by Wi Pere, and returned to his role as a chief and leader in the Hawke's Bay Region.In 1886, with Renata Kawepo, he set up a meeting in Hastings to discuss the forthcoming Native Land Administration Bill with John Ballance, the native minister.