 His grandmother, Rangimārie Hetet was a renowned weaver from Te Kuiti, who passed her skills on to Erenora Puketapu-Hetet.Hetet trained in fraternity of carvers known as Konae Aronui under legendary tohunga whakairo Tuhaka Kapua and later Hone Taiapa at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute.He had only two apprentices, including Sam Hauwaho.