 In 1871, he was elected to the House of Representatives as the member for the Western Maori constituency, defeating the incumbent Mete Paetahi.He remained the sitting member of parliament for the duration of the 5th New Zealand Parliament.In December 1872, Parata became just the second Māori to be appointed to the Executive Council (thus becoming a Minister of the Crown) joining Wi Katene who had been appointed just a month earlier.