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Eruera Maihi Patuone was the eldest son of Tapua, leader and tohunga of Ngāti Hao of Hokianga. Through his father he was descended from Rahiri, ancestor of Nga Puhi; through his mother, Te Kawehau, he was descended from Te Wairua, the ancestor also of Rewa (Manu), Hongi Hika and Hone Heke. Patuone was also the elder brother of Waka Nene.¹

Patuone's name commemorates the deaths of his older brothers Te Anga and Ruanui who were killed in a skirmish, as a result of Ngāpuhi expanding their boundaries. The brothers were killed on a beach. A patu is a close combat weapon and can also mean to be killed. One is the beach or sand. The names Eruera Maihi were Patuone's baptismal names after he was baptised as an Anglican on 26 January 1840.  Eruera is the Māori name for Edward as Maihi is for Marsh. Edward Marsh was missionary Henry Williams oldest son.²

Patuone's wives are remembered as Te Wheke whom he married in 1795. After her death in 1828 he married his second wife Te Hoiia whom he outlived. His third wife was Riria Takarangi of Ngāti Paoa. His fourth wife was Rutu of Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Hao.³

Patuone signed the Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand in 1836 and a visit to the north in 1840 enabled him to be present in February at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.⁴ Together with his brother Nene, they traded in kauri spars and pigs out of Hokianga.⁵

On 22 December 1858, Patuone and Paora Tuhaere welcomed newly arrived Dalmatian immigrants to Auckland at Awataha on the North Shore; a custom they continued for all new migrants to Auckland.

Patuone died at his residence on the North Shore in Auckland and is buried on the slopes of Mount Victoria at Devonport.  At his tangi, it was observed that Paora Tuhaere wore a mourning wreath of pohue and the wife of Chief Tionga of Ngāpuhi wore a wreath of kereru feathers.⁶ When he died in 1872, estimates of Patuone's age varied between 96 and 112.

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