Scholars embark on Japanese study trip
Hohepa Rauputu, a 23-year-old Waikato University student in his final year of study for a Bachelor of Management Studies, is proud of his Maori heritage and says he'll be part of a future that features Maori success in every arena of business. Hohepa has been chosen as Te Ohu Kaimoana's Global Fisheries Scholar to spend 12 months in Japan next year learning about the global fishing industry.
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| Hohepa Rauputu and Dianne Collier have been chosen as the 2008 Global Fisheries Scholars. |
Accompanying Hohepa to Japan is Dianne Collier, who currently works in Te Ohu Kaimoana's allocation and transfer team working to help iwi through the requirements of the Maori Fisheries Act.
Hohepa, who visited Japan some time ago, is looking forward to the challenge. “I see this as an opportunity to work with Maori in a global dynamic industry, an opportunity to increase my language skills and an opportunity to work with Maori on the global stage,” he says.
Prior to winning the scholarship, Hohepa lived and studied in Torino, Italy, where he developed a keen interest in commercial fishing and the business of the international exporting and importing. While he was in Italy, Hohepa was commissioned by Te Ohu Kaimoana to investigate the Italian fisheries industry, completing a report on distribution channels, consumption patterns and the culture of fishing around Italy. “What I learnt from this has fuelled my desire to become part of the international fishing industry,”he says. “I am passionate about culture and would love to learn more about Japan and its people,” he says.
Dianne Collier has had extensive experience in the fishing industry, having been previously been the general manager of Tama Fishing Company in Motueka. Tama Fishing was established by Ngati Tama Manawhenua Ki Te Tau Ihu Trust to on-sell annual catch entitlements. Prior to becoming general manager of the fishing company, Dianne worked as executive manager of Ngati Tama Trust.
Since coming to Te Ohu Kaimoana in 2005 as a senior analyst dealing with fisheries asset allocation and transfer to iwi, Dianne has overseen the mandating of about 30 iwi through the allocation process worth more than $200 million of assets transferred to those iwi. Dianne completed a short course in fisheries economics and innovation at Auckland University in 2006 and is currently studying marketing at Victoria University in Wellington. “I enjoy being part of a successful and productive team, and thrive in highly pressured and challenging work environments,” she says. “My objective is to contribute to the development and success of Maori and iwi organisations within the global seafood industry by further developing my knowledge of the local and international fishing industry.”
Dianne says it is an excellent opportunity to be able to enhance her current skills through the Global Fisheries Scholarship. Hohepa leaves for Japan in January 2008, followed by Dianne later in the year.
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Tiakina ngā rawa hi ika, a tātou kaimoana mo ngā uri whakaheke
Protecting Māori fisheries assets for future generations