Te Pana Ruka signed the Treaty of Waitangi on 12 February 1840 at Mangungu, Hokianga. He was the son of Te Whitu from Te Roroa ki Waipoua and Ngāti Pou ki Waimamaku. His mother, Taharua, was Ngāpuhi from the Ngāti Hineira ki Taiāmai hapū (subtribe).
Te Pana lived mainly at Waimamaku and Waipoua. With his wife, Inatauke, he had sons named Peneti Pana and Ngākuru Pana.