Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri, Te Ati Awa
Joseph got a taste for the kaimoana industry at the age of 14 shucking pāua in a seafood facility on the Chatham Islands, which is now owned and operated by Moana New Zealand. He gained further experience as a crewman and then skipper on a crayfishing vessel on the Chathams before heading off to Waikato University to complete a Bachelor of Management Studies with a double major in Accounting and Economics. To help fund his study costs he crewed on dive vessels during the Christmas holidays for divers harvesting pāua, kina and crayfish.
Following this, Joseph held a number of executive and governance roles in various sectors before finding his way back to the seafood industry in 2016 when he was appointed as the Chief Executive of Ngai Tahu Seafood (NTS). Prior to joining NTS, Joseph was closely involved with the mandating and fisheries settlement process for Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri and is currently the Chair of the Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri Asset Holding Company.
Raised on the Chatham Islands, and with whānau operating in the fishing industry for many years, Joseph has always believed in mahi with purpose and vision that provides commercial and socio-economic opportunities for Iwi, current and future generations. This is what attracted him to his current role at Moana New Zealand. He brings a strong commitment to growing this industry and through his leadership, will be instrumental to the growth and success of Moana’s shellfish and ready-to-eat meals divisions.
Joseph and his wife Shelly now reside in Auckland. They have two tamariki, Kristie-Lee and Jake who reside in Ōtautahi.