IWI / HAPU AFFILIATIONS
Watch interview with descendant Benjamin
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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.
NM
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