Get Involved
Get Involved
FirstMate wants New Zealand to have a strong, passionate seafood sector with healthy people and businesses. If you do too, there are many ways to get involved and help make that vision a reality.
Tell us how FirstMate can support you?
Litmus is surveying people in the seafood industry to see what resources, information, and support would be useful for you as a fisher, aquaculture farmer, or someone working in the office of a seafood business. Your answers will inform the work of FirstMate. Taking part in the survey is voluntary and anonymous and will take around 10 minutes.
To thank you for your time, you will go into the draw to win one of five $200 supermarket vouchers.
Click here to go to the survey
I try to take people on their own terms – we don’t all come from the same backgrounds, have the same stresses in life or care about the same things – and to try to understand what makes them tick so that we can better understand each other.”
- Justine Inns, Trustee

Become a Navigator
Navigators are the backbone of our network and FirstMate won’t exist without them. We are keen to hear from people with a background in any aspect of the seafood sector who are interested in becoming Navigators. This is a paid position and you will be given training and support, but be aware that you may be required to travel around your region to meet up with those needing help. Contact us using the form below for further details of what the role will involve.
Get in touch
Help as a mentor
Are you an innovator? A business whizz? Keen to mentor youngsters who see a future for themselves in our sector? We are building a database of experts in all aspects of commercial fishing, aquaculture farming and operating a business, so if you have a particular skill or knowledge that you are willing to share, we would love to hear from you. Send us an email to let us know how your expertise and enthusiasm could benefit others.
Get in touch
Help as a volunteer
Even if you don’t have the time to commit to becoming a Navigator, their work will benefit hugely from any voluntary help that you can give – check out our Facebook page or check in with your local Navigator to see if there are events coming up that you could get involved with.
Get in touch
Financial support
We are a charity, so financial help will always be welcome! Send us an email using the link below if you want to talk about providing sponsorship for an event or initiative or would like to make a one-off or ongoing donation.
Get in touchWho we are looking for
Anyone working or volunteering for FirstMate must show empathy, be friendly and non-judgmental, and able to keep personal information confidential. We will only achieve our aims if we are viewed as a trusted organisation that keeps people at the heart of everything we do.