Graduation ceremony of Adair Houia-Ashwell - Global Fisheries Scholarship Programme 2025

We would like to congratulate Adair Houia-Ashwell (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Kai Tahu) on her graduation ceremony for the Global Fisheries Scholarship Programme for 2025; hosted in Tokyo by Nissui Incorporation this week.

The Global Fisheries Scholarship was established in 2001 as a joint initiative between Te Ohu Kaimoana and Nissui Corporation (Moana New Zealand’s 50% partner in Sealord Group Limited) as an innovative programme to develop and grow the skills of Māori wanting to work or already employed in the New Zealand seafood industry.

Adair (a Ringa Rehe Ture | Senior Solicitor for Te Ohu Kaimoana) is the first ever lawyer to apply for and receive the scholarship in its 24-year history, and has spent the past six-months living and working in Ginza, East-Tokyo.

Due to Adair’s background in law, Nissui Incorporation tailored the six-month programme to suit her profession, providing time with the legal department of Nissui Incorporation, the Japan Fisheries Agency, the Japan Fisheries Association, and the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency and the not-for-profit Marine Stewardship Council.

For her graduation, Adair was required to give a 30-minute presentation (in Japanese) to Nissui Incorporation executives, followed by a question-and-answer session. Adair presented on three topics; a comparison of the fisheries management system in Aotearoa and Japan, a comparison of our aquaculture licensing system, and what things Aotearoa and Japan could learn from each other, as well as the importance of local perspectives and on the ground realities.

The graduation ceremony was attended by Teru Tanaka (President and CEO, Nissui Incorporation), Shingo Hamada (Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nissui Incorporation), Terutaka Kuraishi (Head of International Business Department, Director and Executive Officer, Nissui Incorporation), Masato Ohira (Deputy Marine Products Business Operating Officer and Executive Officer, Nissui Incorporation), Hiroshi Inoue (Head of HR Department and Executive Officer, Nissui Incorporation), Yumiko Muraoka (Manager of the HR Department, Nissui Incorporation) Anna Louise Duncan (NZ Ambassador to Japan), Pahia Turia (Tumu Whakarae | Chair, Te Ohu Kaimoana) Brianna Boxall (Te Mātārae Taupua | Interim Chief Executive, Te Ohu Kaimoana) and Charlie Mackey (Toka Moana | Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive and Board, Te Ohu Kaimoana).

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