Knowledgeable in their own right, today six elders received their Bachelor of Arts in Mātauranga Māori from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi in front of their community in Panguru. It was a major achievement for the group who showed that age is no barrier to achievement.
It's not something you see every day, grandparents dressing up in their graduation gowns.
There were certainly lots to learn for these new students who went back to higher education.
True to its name, Hokianga Whakapau Karakia, the graduation march was one to the local church. It was a time to remember their peers who had died along this journey.
For these elders, grandchildren played a big part in their pursuit as they wanted to set an example for the younger generation.
So with their hunger for education satisfied and their degrees in hand, the only thing left now for these students is to eat cake and celebrate.