In the 1900s, Heberley was commissioned by the New Zealand government and private European benefactors to create many Māori carvings, such as bowls, tokotoko (walking sticks), none of which depicted his tribal ancestors or were used to define the identity of the owners of the pieces. Among these pieces were gifts for the Coronation of Edward VII and Alexandra commissioned by the premier of New Zealand Richard Seddon, namely a tokotoko and a carved wooden frame for the coronation address to be stored inside. Several pieces such as model waka and pataka (storehouse) were commissioned for Lord Ranfurly and his wife, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York during their royal tour of 1901 (later styled as King George V and Queen Mary of Teck). Heberley died in 1906, aged 56.