Rereata Makiha on learning within the Whare Wānanga space

When Rereata Makiha was 18 years old he became a student of the Whare Wānanga, he became a student 'by default' he says he had to drive his father to wānanga but because of his deteriorating eye sight, he ended up joining in.  He sat in the dark with his elders reciting the histories of the iwi, whakapapa (geneology), tauparapara (incantations) and the maramataka.