Meet Monique Hatfull

“ My current role is ‘Head of Relationships and Communications’ at New Zealand King Salmon - a relatively new role within the Senior Leadership Team. I have two core functions - the first one is about connecting people and nurturing and building relationships (whakawhanaungatanga). Strong relationships are critical to a healthy company, including with our communities, iwi, government, industry, science providers, and beyond. The second core function is strategic communications - ensuring that we effectively and openly sharing who we are and what we stand for as a company through a range of mediums. Being part of the SLT also adds a layer of responsibility - to help create a unified and empowering management team for the company. I love all these facets of my role.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

“ I love working with people, governance and systems, and so have really found my niche working with NZKS. Aquaculture is a sector that offers many diverse roles, and I love how both simple and at the same time, incredibly complex the sector is. Working for a company like NZKS, which is fully vertically integrated (i.e. does it all from growing the fish to selling to customers), you get to fully understand how interconnected and complex the value chain of the industry is. Yet at the end of the day, we are just a company of fish farmers at the bottom of the world, passionate about selling delicious kai to the world.

I am also really passionate about the wider aquaculture sector, and having previously spent 4 years working for the Ministry for Primary Industries Aquaculture Directorate, I have spent time seeing the sector - its potential, and its challenges - from a wider lens. I truly believe this is a sector with such unrealised potential, and I am excited to now have a chance to be working on the industry side of the fence, to help drive this growth - for both the company, and Aotearoa. ”

How did you come to be involved in aquaculture?

“ My tūpuna led me into aquaculture. As an innocent new Masters of Environmental Studies student, I had to select a Masters topic. I didn’t really know what to do except that I wanted it to be based in a te ao Māori worldview and topic. I also wanted it to be relevant to my iwi, so I went into my Rūnanga offices and met a man who changed the course of my life - Hally Toia. He gave me my topic instantly - aquaculture - the industry of the future for Māori. My topic became centered around rights and interests for Māori in aquaculture, and in particular for our whānau and hapū in the Kaipara harbour. It wasn’t until I started this research that I realised our ancestors had a long relationship with aquaculture-like practices, along with many other indigenous people’s around the world. I could go on and on about this topic but this research opened up a door for me, both into my own Māoritanga, and into the world of ahumoana (aquaculture). It’s an adventure I am still on, and am excited about where else it might lead to in the future. ”

Why do you think WoAA is important?

“ Why do I think WoAA is a great kaupapa? Well, mostly because I think the industry needs more wāhine - and anything that can achieve this is a good idea by me. I guess I have been around long enough now not to get too intimidated by being in the minority, but if this holds other women back by not taking up opportunities, or backing themselves, then I want to be there to say ‘kia māia, karawhuia’ (be brave, give it heaps!). I also hope that by building a network of other women in aquaculture, we can keep each other abreast of opportunities and make some magic happen. I also love mentoring (and being mentored too) - so I’m open to connecting to anyone who is on the same wavelength. ”

What is something you are passionate about?

“ I am passionate about te reo Māori. I didn’t grow up with te reo Māori, but I’ve been on my language journey for many a year, and I have an insatiable thirst to continue learning mō āke tonu atu (forever). ”

What is your favourite seafood?

“ Tipa (scallops) hands down (but big, fat, juicy Te Tai Tokerau ones). Can’t wait for someone to kick off scallop farming! ”

What do you like to do in your spare time?

“ A few random hobbies - I love boxing and combat classes at the gym. I think this might be my form of therapy, and helps me stay calm and centred in my mahi (and busy whānau life). I should also mention I am the proud Māmā of two tamariki, and wife of a very supportive Tane who runs the home so I can give my mahi heaps. Also, anything out in te taiao (hiking, snowboarding, swimming, mountain biking) and I’m there! ”

Do you have any advice or support for women working in or looking to work in aquaculture in Aotearoa?

“ My advice would be to dive in - you never know where this might take you. It is an industry with a bright future and if you invest in a career in aquaculture, you wont be disappointed. ”

Is there anything else you would like to say or share?

“ I would like to see more wāhine Māori share their voices in this forum. I just realised the WoAA (Women of Aquaculture Aotearoa) also nicely translates to ‘Wāhine o Ahumoana Aotearoa’ (just saying) - I know there are heaps of us out there, and I’d love to hear your stories too. I’ll probably be harassing you all soon - so consider yourself warned. ”