Of Rangitāne, Ngāti Kuia, Muaūpoko and Ngāti Apa descent, Makitanara was born at Havelock in 1874.
Makitanara assisted Elsdon Best and William John Elvy with the collection of Māori history in Marlborough, took an active interest in Māori land issues and education, and assisted with the recruitment of Māori during World War I [REF].