He served as governor of South Australia (1841–45) and of New Zealand (1845–53; 1861–68), where he oversaw the introduction of representative government and gained a reputation for suppressing rebellion and promoting the “amalgamation” of the Maori people into settler society. After the onset of the Taranaki War, he failed in negotiations with the quasi-nationalist Kingitanga, and invaded the Waikato in 1863. He ended his governorship in disfavour with the Colonial Office, as the war dragged on.