Rāwiri Paturoa signed the Cook Strait (Henry Williams) sheet of the Treaty of Waitangi on 26 May 1840 in the Manawatū district.
Rāwiri Paturoa was a rangatira of Te Paneiri and Ngāi Te Upokoiri. He was the son of Te Kori and the grandson of Urukahika, and the oldest of his four siblings: Te Poke/Te Poki, Wi Te Ota, Enoka Te Urukahika and Te Awhu. His brother Wi Te Ota also signed the Treaty at the same hui.
Rāwiri was married to Maata te Hoi. He had at least one child named Hera.
In May 1849 Rāwiri signed a letter addressed to Queen Victoria concerning the transportation of English prisoners to New Zealand.