Our Carvers / Tutors

During a visit to our workshop, you might see any of our tutors teaching or working on their own sculptures. We treasure our current crop of tutors for their ability to teach a wide range of students and produce stunning artworks of their own. All our tutors value each student's design ideas and the stage of their stone carving journey. The trust provides a place for tutors and students alike to share ideas, skills and each others company.

Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa – Let us keep close together, not wide apart

Rapheal Stowers

Rapheal Stowers is a Christchurch-born Samoan (Sinamoga, Faleasui) carver who works in wood and stone. Rapheal uses both contemporary and traditional Polynesian designs in his carving. He initially trained in Maori carving as there is no Pacifika carving school in Christchurch.

Rapheal's training included: a full-time course at Nga Hau E Wha Marae, three months tutelage from Ricky Manuel and time spent with marae carver, Karl Ward. Rapheal also works from his studio in Aranui and is committed to helping youth in the Aranui area.

Rapheal is one of the trustees of Te Pani, and has been involved for the last 4 years.

Bill Rowlands

Bill is a self taught bone and stone carver with 20 years experience. He was first a hobby carver, then gradually began taking commissions.

Bill studied Whakairo (wood carving) at the Nga Hau E Wha Marae in Christchurch, then joined the team at Te Pani Trust where he discovered a love for sculpting in Oamaru and Mt Somers stone.

Bill enjoys teaching others and witnessing their emotional experiences and satisfaction of finishing an artwork.

Dwayne Grenfell-Panirau

Ko Te Upoko O Tahu Mataa te maunga
Ko Okana te awa
Ko Wairewa te roto
Ko Mako te Marae
Ko Ngati Irikahu te hapu
Ko Ngai Tahu te Iwi
Ko Dwayne Grenfell-Panirau taku ingoa

Dwayne started carving when he was twelve, is self taught and enjoys working with Maori design. He carves in both wood and stone and appreciates their differences.
Dwayne gains great satisfaction from his students achievements, and particularly enjoys mentoring young people.

Dave Butcher

Dave Butcher has been carving for six years. His background is in graphic design, and his works are inspired by the materials at hand and Nature. He has been a tutor at Te Pani for eighteen months. He prefers detailed designs, though carves "whatever the stone will let me", he says.