The Global Fisheries Scholarship presents a unique opportunity and innovative programme to develop and grow the skills of Māori wanting to work or already employed in the seafood industry of Aotearoa. There is no other equivalent scholarship or opportunity like it offered by the fishing industry in Aotearoa.
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As well as the life-experience that comes with living, working and being fully immersed in another culture on a daily basis for six-months, the scholarship also provides insight into the wide and varied career options available in the seafood industry – in Aotearoa and internationally.

The scholarship was established in 2001 as a joint initiative between Te Ohu Kaimoana (then known as the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission) and Japanese company Nissui Corporation (formerly known as Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd). Since the passing of the ‘Maori Fisheries Act in 2004’ Te Ohu Kaimoana has primarily been responsible for administering the scholarship (with Moana New Zealand administering the scholarship between 2018 – 2025).

As it is for Māori, Japanese culture is historically and socially tied to the sustainable harvest of kaimoana. Nissui, itself over 100 years old, is one of the world’s largest seafood companies with subsidiaries in most continents in the world.

Te Ohu Kaimoana and Nissui Corporation each contribute 50% of the costs towards the scholarship with Te Ohu Kaimoana’s contribution being funded from the interest from a specific $1m trust fund.