Fishing industry pilot scheme

FISH SCHOOL: An iwi-led pre-employment fishing industry project under way in Napier, as trainees learn the ropes aboard the Hawke's Bay Seafoods operated Twofold Bay at West Quay. Leading hand Jonny Cormack (left) and trainees Tui Risati and Tamati Hunuhunu. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

A shortage of young skilled people going into the fishing industry has sparked a new pre-employment initiative among iwi and Napier industry giant Hawke's Bay Seafoods.

Seven people started a four-week pilot Ara Ika pathway-to-fishing programme earlier this month, introducing the trainees to career possibilities across the industry from fishing at sea to processing.

It's immediately impressed HB Seafoods director Nino D'Esposito who said: "We've got some good young talent coming through out of this."

"We have a real need for skilled workers in the fishing industry," he said. "This will ensure they have an understanding of the various tasks involved in the industry. We have a number of positions vacant which we hope to fill from this first intake of trainees."

The company, Ngati Kahungunu Iwi and Wairoa Waikaremoana Maori Trust Board have launched the programme, with trainee prospects identified by Work and Income.

The trust board, which provides training and work placement programmes, has designed Ara Ika specifically for Hawke's Bay Seafoods, aiming to get the trainees job-ready before they began a four-week work placement with HB Seafoods.

Trust Board manager Jackalin Manuel said it was an "exciting initiative", adding another dimension to the existing employment training by having the employer involved throughout, from selecting the whanau to the hands-on training of them.

Wairoa Waikaremoana had run a similar programme with the meat industry, and based on its success the trust has high expectations for fishery initiative.

"There is no reason why we can't roll out other industry-specific programmes in the future," Mrs Manuel said.

Ngti Kahungunu chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana said it is the first step towards setting up a fishing training school in the region, creating career employment opportunities for the iwi and providing fishing companies with well-trained staff.

"It follows on from our Sailing School initiative with the Waka which has trained four skippers and combines a traditional approach but with a commercial skew," he said.

Fish industry engagement is seen as a natural for Ngti Kahungunu, which with a seaboard extending the length of Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa has the second longest iwi coastline in the country.