 He began his artistic training in Kaitaia in Maori carving and design.Between 1986 and 1996, he worked as a carving tutor at Otago and Southland Polytechnics, and the Dunedin College of Education's Arai Te Uru Kokiri Youth Learning Centre.In 1995, he established Te Whare Whakairo Gallery and Workshop in Dunedin.