Puti Tīpene Wātene, popularly known as Steve, was born in Kirikiri, Thames, on 18 August 1910, the only child of Rose Maria Savage (Hāwete) of Te Arawa and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, and her second husband, Toke Wātene, a farmer of Ngāti Maru descent. He had a half-brother from his mother’s first marriage, and his parents also fostered more than 30 children. His paternal grandparents were Mita Wātene and his wife, Kataraina Mātene, the daughter of Mātene Te NgĀ, a noted Ngāti Maru chief. He had strong connections to the Tainui, Te Arawa, Mātaatua, Horouta and Tākitimu canoes. His iwi and hapū affiliations included Ngāti Te Aute, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Hauāuru, Ngāti Paoa and Ngāti Tamaterā.