 In the 1898 session of the Kotahitanga parliament at Papawai in Wairarapa, the main item of business was discussion of Seddon's bill to set up Māori land boards, which threatened to further reduce Māori control of their land.Tomoana took a moderate line, accepting the bill as a basis for discussion, whereas most others regarded it as a violation of the rules and procedures of the Māori parliament.In June 1898, Tomoana was appointed a member of the Legislative Council, a position he held until 20 February 1904 when he died.