 He was the third son of Te Rotohenga (also called Winipere) from her second marriage to Hira Te Ota.Through his mother's first marriage, Tomoana was a younger half-brother of Karaitiana Takamoana and Te Meihana Takihi.His whakapapa links him to Ngāti Hawea as his principal hapu, however he was also connected to Ngāti Hinetahu, Ngāti Te Rehunga, and Ngāti Hori.